254852 Mexican American Teen Health Spa: An innovative and culturally specific obesity prevention program for adolescent girls

Monday, October 29, 2012

Lydia Guzman, MPH, RD , San Mateo County Health System, San Mateo, CA
Mexican American adolescent girls suffer from a high rate of obesity and obesity-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and depression. Obesity in most cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. It is now well documented that social support is a key element in behavior change and that adolescent are motivated and influenced by peers, physical appearance and social acceptance.

Objective: To develop an obesity prevention program specifically for Mexican American adolescent girls with the focus on the behavior change process.

Method: The Teen Health Spa, a 6-week obesity prevention program highlighting the connection between a healthy lifestyle and physical appearance to motivate teen girls towards health, was modified to be culturally specific. Nutrition and physical activity education are combined with spa-like activities; facials and scrubs made from cultural fruits and vegetables are offered while teens receive obesity prevention information. The participants develop an individual action plan outlining their personal goals and strategies for making positive behavior change. Weekly, they make modifications to their plan, share ideas, and provide social support for each other during the behavior change process. The program concludes with the teens advocating for a healthy lifestyle by conducting their own version of a “Health Spa” to share their knowledge with family and friends.

Results: Pre/post tests demonstrated increase in knowledge and most important participants reported an average of two healthy behavior changes.

Conclusion: The program provided the motivation, social support and the goal setting tool needed to encourage healthy behavior change.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) Design a culturally appropriate obesity prevention program for Mexican American adolescent girls. 2) Identify three key factors that promote healthy behavior change in adolescent girls. 3) Name three health issues of special concern to Mexican American adolescent girls.

Keywords: Latinas, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I created the teen health spa concept. I have been conducting the program for over ten years. I have a degree in Public Health and I'm also a registered dietitian with over forty years experience of working with low-income communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3400.0: Obesity, food environments and health disparities