title: Latino parents' perceptions of weight terminology used in pediatric weight counseling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify which English and Spanish terms Latino parents consider motivating, as well as culturally and linguistically appropriate, for provider use during weight counseling of overweight and obese Latino youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Latino parent perceptions of common Spanish and English terms for overweight were discussed with 54 parents in 6 focus groups (3 English, 3 Spanish). Atlas.ti software was used for qualitative analysis. An initial codebook was used to code passages for English and Spanish terminology separately. Subsequent changes to the coded passages and creation of new codes were made by team consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  "Demasiado peso para su salud" (too much weight for his/her health) was the only phrase for excess weight that was consistently identified as motivating and inoffensive by Spanish-speaking parents. "Sobrepeso" (overweight), a commonly used term among health care providers, was motivating to some parents but offensive to others. English-speaking parents had mixed reactions to "unhealthy weight," "weight problem," and "overweight," finding them motivating, confusing, or insulting. Parents found "fat" "gordo" and "obese" "obeso" consistently offensive. Most participants found growth charts and the term "BMI" confusing. Parents consistently reported that providers could enhance motivation and avoid offending families by linking a child's weight to health risks, particularly diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "Demasiado peso para su salud" (too much weight for his/her health) was motivating to many Spanish-speaking Latino parents. Among English-speaking Latino parents, no single English term emerged as motivating, well-understood, and inoffensive. Linking a child's excess weight with increased health risks was motivating and valuable to many parents regardless of language spoken.
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Care Services, Denver Health, Denver, Colo; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo. Electronic address: shanna.knierim@dhha.org.
authors.forename: Shanna Doucette
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Knierim
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa; Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, Colo.
authors.forename: Alanna Kulchak
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rahm
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haemer
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Care Services, Denver Health, Denver, Colo.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raghunath
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, Colo.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo.
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, Colo.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Care Services, Denver Health, Denver, Colo; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo; The Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colo.
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hambidge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D032882:Comprehension; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Latina/latino; obesity; overweight children; parental perceptions; weight counseling