Child feeding practices and overweight status in Mexican immigrant households

The purpose was to compare cultural attitudes and beliefs, child-feeding practices, and overweight status of children among Mexican families living in California(CA) or Mexico(MX). Eligibility criteria included: household heads born in Jalisco or Guanajuato, MX; at least one member of household currently living in US; and at least one child between 1-6yrs old. In 2006 Spanish-speaking staff conducted interviews and weighed and measured children and their mothers in a community-based sample of households from Ventura, CA(n= 100) and two sites in Guanajuato, MX(n=205). Interview data included household characteristics; infant-feeding history; food frequency instrument; 24 hour recalls, and maternal perceptions of the child's diet and weight. Growth of the children 12-60 months was compared to the new WHO growth references. For this group, mean (+ SD) BMI for age/z-score was +1.01+1.56 in CA and +0.36+1.47 in MX(p < 0.009). Mean (+ SD) height-for-age/z-score was -0.11+1.24 in CA and -0.47+1.52 in MX(NS). More mothers in MX were concerned that children will become overweight (MX 88% and CA 68%p=0.001). Among those with overweight children, 16% of CA and 14.7% of Mexican mothers report ever being told that the child was overweight(NS). Compared to their Mexican counterparts, California immigrant children consumed more products as cheese and cereal but less often corn tortillas and soda. Although the prevalence of obesity appears greater among young Mexican immigrant children in CA than in their counterparts in MX, health professionals need to consider the emerging problem of childhood obesity in communities with high out-migration.

Funded by UCMEXUSCalifornia-Mexico Health-Initiative