Cultural Aspects of Latino Early Childhood Obesity

描述（由申请人提供）：美国儿童肥胖症患病率已达20-25%。拉丁美洲人一生中肥胖率更高，这导致了与肥胖相关的发病率和死亡率的种族差异。儿童期肥胖一直延续到成年期，因此幼儿期是预防肥胖的关键发育时期。本研究将采用定性焦点小组法和自由列表法：(1)描述拉丁裔母亲用于识别和分类“肥胖”和“超重”婴儿的特征；(2)评估拉丁裔家庭成员认为可能导致儿童早期肥胖的行为、食物、喂养方式和其他风险；(3)确定拉丁裔父母对被卫生保健专业人员认为“肥胖”或“超重”的幼儿采取何种适当干预措施；(4)确定拉丁美洲人认为哪些人适合干预儿童的营养和活动问题；(5)探讨拉丁裔家庭对未来肥胖预防项目的偏好；(6)确定文化适应程度较低和较高的拉丁裔家庭在儿童早期肥胖问题、食物和喂养方式以及干预偏好方面的差异。这项研究是对儿童肥胖的文化维度、关于什么是“肥胖”和“超重”的文化知识、以及父母分享的关于幼儿的喂养和营养知识的定性驱动探索。对焦点小组数据的分析将确定儿童肥胖的文化模式、关于喂养方式的文化知识和其他导致儿童肥胖的因素、关于健康喂养方式的信念，以及符合拉丁裔家庭偏好的干预途径。在这项试点工作的基础上，将设计一个具有文化能力的初级预防方案，以预防拉丁裔儿童早期肥胖和超重，并促进健康的营养和喂养。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Childhood obesity in the U.S. has reached a 20-25% prevalence. Latinos have higher rates of obesity across the lifespan, contributing to an ethnic disparity in rates of obesity-related morbidity and mortality. Obesity in childhood tracks into adulthood, making early childhood a key developmental time period for prevention. This study will use qualitative focus group methodology and freelisting to: (1) describe the characteristics Latino mothers use to identify and categorize infants as "obese" and "overweight;" (2) assess the kinds of behaviors, foods, feeding patterns, and other risks believed by Latino family members to contribute to early childhood obesity; (3) ascertain what Latino mothers and father would consider appropriate interventions for young children considered "obese" or "overweight" by health care professionals; (4) identify whom Latinos would consider appropriate persons to intervene in nutrition and activity issues for children; and (5) explore various program characteristics preferred by Latino families for a future obesity prevention program; and (6) identify differences among less- and more-acculturated Latino families regarding early childhood obesity issues, food and feeding practices, and intervention preferences. The study is a qualitatively-driven exploration of cultural dimensions of childhood obesity, cultural knowledge about what constitutes "obesity" and "overweight," and the kinds of feeding and nutrition knowledge parents share about young children. Analysis of focus group data will identify cultural models of childhood obesity, cultural knowledge about feeding practices and other factors that contribute to childhood obesity, beliefs about healthful feeding practices, and avenues for intervention congruent with Latino families' preferences. Based on this pilot work, a culturally competent primary prevention program will be designed to prevent Latino early childhood obesity and overweight, and promote healthful nutrition and feeding.