title: Reducing Hispanic children's obesity risk factors in the first 1000 days of life: a qualitative analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Modifiable behaviors during the first 1000 days (conception age 24 months) mediate Hispanic children's obesity disparities. We aimed to examine underlying reasons for early life obesity risk factors and identify potential early life intervention strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted 7 focus groups with 49 Hispanic women who were pregnant or had children < age 24 months. Domains included influences on childhood obesity risk factors and future intervention ideas. We analyzed data with immersion-crystallization methods until no new themes emerged.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes included coping with pregnancy may trump healthy eating and physical activity; early life weight gain is unrelated to later life obesity; fear of infant hunger drives bottle and early solids introduction; beliefs about infant taste promote early solids and sugary beverage introduction; and belief that screen time promotes infant development. Mothers identified physicians, nutritionists, and relatives as important health information sources and expressed interest in mobile technology and group or home visits for interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opportunities exist in the first 1000 days to improve Hispanic mothers' understanding of the role of early life weight gain in childhood obesity and other obesity risk factors. Interventions that link health care and public health systems and include extended family may prevent obesity among Hispanic children.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA ; Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Woo Baidal
authors: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors: Shaniece
authors: 0000-0002-2470-5377
authors: S
authors: Criss
authors: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA ; Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA.
authors: Roberta E
authors: RE
authors: Goldman
authors: Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Meghan
authors: 0000-0002-9391-5730
authors: M
authors: Perkins
authors: Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Courtney
authors: C
authors: Cunningham
authors: Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Elsie M
authors: EM
authors: Taveras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015430:Weight Gain