title: Low-income African-American adults share weight status, food-related psychosocial factors and behaviours with their children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to examine the extent to which low-income African-American children's weight status, psychosocial characteristics and food-related behaviours are associated with that of their adult caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from baseline evaluation of B'More Healthy Communities for Kids obesity prevention trial were used. Outcomes of interest were children's overweight and/or obesity status, food-related self-efficacy, knowledge, intentions and healthier/less healthy food acquisition scores. The primary exposures were adult caregiver's overweight and/or obesity status, their psychosocial factors and food acquisition scores. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children had higher odds of overweight or obesity if they had an overweight/obese caregiver (odds ratio [OR] 4.04, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.59-10.28) or an obese caregiver (OR 2.50, 95%CI 1.39-4.51). Having a caregiver in the highest quartile of self-efficacy, food intentions and healthy food acquisition patterns was associated with higher odds of their child also having a higher score on these factors (self-efficacy: OR 3.77 [95%CI 1.76-8.04]; food intentions: OR 1.13 [95%CI 1.01-1.27]; and healthy food acquisition: OR 2.19 [95%CI 1.05-4.54]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Child and adult caregiver weight status and psychosocial characteristics were positively associated in this low-income, urban population. These findings may help inform obesity treatment or prevention programmes and interventions aimed at parents and families.
authors: Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Han
authors: Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Jones-Smith
authors: Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA.
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Surkan
authors: Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA.
authors: A Y
authors: AY
authors: Kharmats
authors: Health and Society Institute Federal University of São Paulo Santos SP Brazil.
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Vedovato
authors: Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA.
authors: A C B
authors: AC
authors: Trude
authors: Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Anderson Steeves
authors: Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Gittelsohn
keywords: Adults; African‐American; BMI; childhood obesity