The increasing trend in prevalence of pediatric overweight accentuates the need to understand how potential risk factors may impact the development of overweight. The goal of this study was to explore maternal attitudes, concerns, and strategies related to child-feeding practices and child weight status. Twelve focus groups (5-10 mothers/ group; mean=8.4/group) were conducted among mothers of children aged 2 to 5 years. Nine groups (3 Caucasian, 3 African American, and 3 Hispanic) were recruited from low-income mothers participating in the Georgia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Three groups were recruited from Caucasian middle-income (>185% poverty) mothers in Pennsylvania. Data were summarized using ethnographic content analyses and reviewed for nutrition/feeding information. Providing good nutrition was a common goal among all groups. All low-income groups cited “getting their children to eat” as an additional goal. All groups expressed concern about their children eating too much junk food, sweets/sugar; in addition, middle-income Caucasian mothers were concerned about fat intake, and Hispanics, processed foods. Perceptions of overweight based on schematic diagrams of varying weights of children indicated that African American and middle-income Caucasian mothers were more likely to define overweight in diagrams depicting higher weight status than other groups. All groups reported concern about underweight. Low-income Hispanic mothers indicated concern about overweight, but emphasized that nutrition and health were more important than weight. Middle-income Caucasian mothers cited concern about eating disorders. Racial/ethnic and income differences in feeding practices and weight perceptions should be considered in research and program planning.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session the participant will be able to: 1. Recognize that there are differences in maternal attitudes, concern, and strategies related to child-feeding practices by race/ethnicity and income level. 2. Understand that there are differences in maternal perceptions of child weight status by race/ethnicity and income level. 3. Realize that these differences need to be considered in research and program planning
Keywords: Obesity, Children's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.