Ecological differences in weight, length, and weight for length of Mexican American children in the WIC program.
OBJECTIVE
Examine factors common in the environments of children who obtain services from a WIC program to determine if differences in ecological/environmental factors can be found in the children who differ in weight, length, and weight for length.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 300 children, 100 each who were stunted, normal weight for length, or overweight. Instruments used were NCATS, ARSMA II, 24-hr diet recall, and Baecke Activity Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Significant differences were present in children's diet, parents' BMI, parents' generation in United States, parents' activity levels, and maternal-child relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Encourage parents to adopt family approaches to encourage normal body size in children.
Reifsnider
Elizabeth
E
School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. elreifsn@utmb.edu
Ritsema
Melanie
M
D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000208:ethnology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D011632:Public Assistance; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology