Evaluating Parental Influences on Obesity Among Mexican American Children

The number of children in the United States who are overweight or obese has increased
steadily over the past several decades. Latino children are at particular risk of becoming
overweight or obese. Children who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. Parental behaviors are
thought to be important influences on children's obesity, but previous studies have only
examined a narrow range of parental behaviors, and few studies have specifically focused on
Latino children. There is an urgent need for further research that examines the ways in
which parental eating habits and behaviors affect the rising obesity rates among Latino
children. This study will focus on Mexican Americans, which is the largest Latino group in
the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine whether parental and extended
family members' dietary-related behaviors predict children's dietary intake and weight gain.
The effects of socioeconomic status and cultural factors on parental behaviors will also be
examined.

This study will enroll Mexican-American children and their parents. All study visits will
occur at the participant's home. At a baseline visit, study staff will conduct a 1-hour
interview with children and their parents to collect information on their thoughts about
food, family eating habits, and how family members talk about food; children will also be
asked about their physical development and physical activity level. Both parents and
children will have their height, weight, waist, and hip circumference measured. Children
will then wear an activity monitor for 3 days in the week following the baseline visit to
measure physical activity levels. Two additional study visits will occur over the following
3 weeks. At the second visit, study staff will conduct 20-minute interviews with parents and
children about their eating habits. At the third visit, study staff will videotape the
child's evening meal, and additional interviews will occur. Follow-up visits will occur at
Years 1 and 2. At both follow-up visits, repeat baseline interviews will occur, and children
will wear the activity monitor for 3 days.

Inclusion Criteria for Children:

- Mexican American

- Age 8 to 10

- Only one child from each family will be eligible to participate; one child will be
randomly selected if multiple children are eligible

Inclusion Criteria for Parents:

- Mexican American

- Any marital status

- Speaks Spanish or English

- Family will be eligible to participate even if only mother agrees to participate

Exclusion Criteria for Children:

- Diagnosed with a condition or disease that affects weight (e.g., inflammatory bowel
disease, type 1 diabetes, underlying thyroid disease)

- Currently participating in another obesity clinical trial