141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

287740
Pediatric obesity risk assessment in the preschool setting: Factor validation with spanish-speaking families

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM

Ruby Natale , University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Marilyn Townsend, PhD , University of California, Davis
Susan Uhlhorn, PhD , Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Sarah Messiah, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Introduction. Ethnic minority children from low income backgrounds bear a disproportionate burden of the obesity epidemic as well as its health-related consequences. It is essential to determine ways to assess the healthy eating patterns in diverse ethnic communities to inform future prevention strategies.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the factor validity of a pediatric risk assessment on healthy eating and physical activity behaviors with an ethnically diverse sample of preschool age children and their families from low-income backgrounds.

Methods. A total of 980 caregivers (parents/grandparents) completed the ‘Healthy Kids Checklist' to assess the quality of foods being served to the children at home. 60% of children were Hispanic (31% from various Central American countries, 15% Cuban, 10% Mexican). Principal components analysis with Oblimin rotation was the data reduction technique used with 29 items from the Healthy Kids Checklist. Factor loadings for ‘complex' variables >3.0 were retained.

Results. Ten items loaded on the first factor identified as ‘child eating fruit and vegetables' including parent modeling, child eating vegetable at main meal, parent purchasing fruit/vegetables, and parent preparing fruit/vegetables. Based on hypothesized item content, other 6 scales were labeled ‘child eating junk food', ‘child physical activity', ‘parenting behaviors', ‘Child eating out', ‘Child drinking soda', ‘child watching TV'.

Discussion. Factorial validity was demonstrated for the Healthy Kids Checklist tool with this predominantly Spanish-speaking audience. Parent modeling is a critical component of health eating with and should be incorporated into obesity prevention programs targeting this young age group.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss parent modeling as a critical component of health eating in the preschool setting Describe why parent and teacher healthy nutrition role modeling should be incorporated into obesity prevention programs targeting preschool age children

Keywords: Obesity, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have no disclosures or conflicts of interest to report
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.