OBESITY AND OTHER RISK FACTORS IN MEXICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN

Principal Investigator: Diane Tyler, PhD, RN

The purposes of this study are to (1) assess the prevalence of overweight children residing in a Central Texas Mexican American community, (2) identify risk factors associated with overweight in this population, and (3) assess cultural appropriateness of nationally recommended weight management interventions for Mexican American children of low income families. The long-term goals are to develop and test community-based, culturally appropriate health promotion and risk reduction weight management interventions for Mexican American children and families. Retrospective medical record reviews of 2,000 children from a central Texas school based health center in a largely Mexican American community are being done to identify those children between 8 and 12 years of age who are overweight. Body mass index (BMI) and weight status are being calculated from these records. Individual and group interviews with a purposive sample of 50 overweight/at risk for overweight children are being used to assess other risk factors, eating/activity patterns, skin for acanthosis nigracans, as well as to discuss perception and efficacy of recommended weight loss strategies.

STATUS: Completed and manuscript in progress, Spring 2002