No Association between Obesity and Behavior in Low-income, Preschool Latino Children.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between behavioral problems and obesity in early childhood in Latinos is largely unknown.


METHODS
Cross-sectional anthropometric and behavioral data of children at three years of age were gathered from a cohort of 174 children of Latina mothers at two San Francisco hospitals. Child behaviors were assessed using the preschool Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/1½-5). Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between behavior and obesity.


RESULTS
At three years, 27.7% were obese. There were no associations between affective (OR = 1.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42-8.59), anxiety (OR = 1.86; 95% CI 0.53-6.47), pervasive developmental (OR = 0.42; 95% CI 0.13-1.36), attention deficit hyperactivity (OR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.12-2.76), or oppositional defiant (OR = 6.49; 95% CI 0.65-64.49) problems and obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
Though psychological problems and obesity are associated among older children and adolescents, there was no association in Latino three-year olds in a low-income sample.
Jason M
JM
Nagata
Melissa J
MJ
Hagan
Melvin B
MB
Heyman
Janet M
JM
Wojcicki
D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D057189:Checklist; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology