Changing overweight Latino preadolescent body mass index: the effect of the parent-child dyad.
BACKGROUND
Latino children are disproportionately burdened by obesity.


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether body mass index (BMI) change in preadolescents reflected that of their participating parent.


METHODS
A total of 72 Latino overweight/obese preadolescents (BMI ≥ 85%) and a parent participated in a randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received 5 monthly 60-minute sessions at a recreation center (group physical activity, goal setting). The control group received 2 standard-of-care clinic visits plus a group discussion.


RESULTS
Between baseline and 6-month follow-up, 47% of children (mean change = -0.37, SD = 2.48) and 63% of parents (mean change = -0.88, SD = 3.53) decreased their BMI. Parent-child dyad BMI change was significantly correlated (r = .53, P = .001). In linear modeling, those preadolescents in the control group were more likely to lose absolute BMI units (-0.96, P = .03); whereas those who had parents who gained BMI over the time interval were more likely to increase their BMI (0.17, P = .008).


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity interventions should focus on the parent-child dyad.
Barkin
Shari L
SL
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-9225, USA. shari.barkin@vanderbilt.edu
Gesell
Sabina B
SB
Póe
Eli K
EK
Ip
Edward H
EH
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000208:ethnology