title: Can the Internet be used to reach parents for family-based childhood obesity interventions?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify socioeconomic correlates of computer/Internet use among parents of overweight preschool-aged children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 470 baseline participants in a trial to prevent obesity in children 2 to 6.9 years old with body mass index ≥ 95th percentile or 85th to 95th percentile with one overweight parent were studied. Interviews with parents used Health Information National Trends Survey questions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, 94% of the participants had home computers and 93% reported Internet usage. In adjusted models, parents with ≤ college degree (odds ratio = 4.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-18.3) or with household income ≤$50,000 (odds ratio = 7.6; 95% confidence interval = 2.2-26.8) had decreased likelihood of computer ownership. Of parents who reported going online, 63% used Internet to look for health/medical information for themselves and 42% for their children. Parents with ≤ a college degree or with body mass index <25 kg/m(2) were less likely to use Internet. Results support using the Internet for early childhood obesity prevention with enhanced outreach efforts for low socioeconomic status families.
authors: YMCA of USA, Washington, DC 20036, USA. katherine.hohman@ymca.net
authors: Katherine H
authors: KH
authors: Hohman
authors: Sarah N
authors: SN
authors: Price
authors: Kendrin
authors: K
authors: Sonneville
authors: Sheryl L
authors: SL
authors: Rifas-Shiman
authors: Steven L
authors: SL
authors: Gortmaker
authors: Matthew W
authors: MW
authors: Gillman
authors: Elsie M
authors: EM
authors: Taveras
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control; D010290:Parents; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors