title: Adaptation of a culturally relevant nutrition and physical activity program for low-income, Mexican-origin parents with young children.
abstract: Latino children experience higher rates of obesity than do non-Latino white children. Family-centered nutrition interventions can slow the rate of weight gain in this population. Niños Sanos, Familia Sana (Healthy Children, Healthy Family) is a 5-year, community-based, participatory research study that targets rural Mexican-origin farmworker families with children aged 2 to 8 years in California's Central Valley. Adaptation of a culturally relevant obesity prevention program involved qualitative research to tailor key obesity prevention messages, pilot testing and implementation of key messages and activities at family nights, and continual modification to incorporate culturally innovative elements. Of the 238 families enrolled, 53% (125) attended the recommended minimum of 5 (of 10 possible) classes during the first year. A university and community partnership can guide development of a culturally tailored obesity prevention program that is suitable for reaching a high-risk Mexican-origin audience through cooperative extension and other public health programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616. Telephone: 530-754-9063. Email: llkaiser@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: Center for Transnational Health, Chicano Studies, University of California, Davis, California.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension Yolo County, Woodland, California.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension Tulare County, Tulare, California.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamp
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension Kern County, Bakersfield, California.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension Humboldt/Del Norte Counties, Eureka, California.
authors.forename: Dorina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.affiliation: UC CalFresh, University of California, Davis, California.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California.
authors.forename: Mayra Muñoz
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Alberto Aguilera, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.affiliation: Center for Transnational Health, Chicano Studies, University of California, Davis, California.
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Torre
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005192:Family Health; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty; D016730:Program Development; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data