title: Targeting children's dietary behaviors in a family intervention: 'Entre familia: reflejos de salud'.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This intervention sought to promote healthy eating with the ultimate goal of reducing childhood obesity risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and sixty-one Latino families living on the US-Mexico border with at least one child between 7-13 years of age were eligible to participate. Families randomly assigned to the four-month intervention received 14 contacts with a promotora (community health worker), consisting of 11 home visits and three telephone calls; the control condition was a delayed treatment intervention. Children reported on their dietary intake at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at the six month follow-up visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention reduced weekly consumption of fast food (p<0.05). A dose-response relationship was observed such that for every seven hours of promotora contact, monthly variety of fruits (p<0.01) and vegetables (p<0.01) increased by one. No other intervention effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family-based interventions can improve children's eating habits, with the amount of contact with the promotora being key to success.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral & Community Health, San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lucy A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral & Community Health, San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parada
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Slymen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral & Community Health, San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arredondo
authors.affiliation: Clínicas de Salud del Pueblo, Inc., Brawley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral & Community Health, San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Guadalupe X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Ayala
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003150:Community Health Workers; D004032:Diet; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011203:Poverty; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables