Environmental Influences on Early Childhood Obesity

Children from low income families of minority status are at greater risk for development of
obesity. There are no known existing treatments for pediatric obesity that focus on improving
parental behaviors and the home food and activity environment. The objective of this study
will be to address this limitation by developing and testing a novel treatment for low-income
minority families. The objective will be attained by testing the following hypothesis: A
parent-focused, home-based treatment aimed at improving parental feeding behaviors, child
exposure to fruits and vegetables, and the home food and activity environment will result in
significantly greater decrease in percent overweight / obesity compared to recommended
practice. The hypothesis will be tested by using the approach of a pilot randomized control
trial (RCT). The rationale for this aim is that success of the planned research will derive a
treatment package that will provide the basis for the RCT. The planned research is expected
to show the level of impact of changing parental feeding behaviors and the home environment
on childhood overweight / obesity.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. mothers will identify themselves as being Latino

2. obese preschool children will be required to have a BMI percentile at or above the
95th percentile, based on sex specific, BMI-for-age population referenced growth
charts

3. participating children will be required to have at least one primary caregiver who is
English-speaking as their primary language and live within 50 miles of the UCD for the
initial treatment development phase (n=3) and at least one family who is Spanish
speaking (n=1). However, all families participating in the randomized portion can also
be exclusively Spanish speaking.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Children with medical conditions known to promote obesity will be excluded along with
individuals involved with a weight-control program or those taking appetite-affecting
medications

2. Children who are greater than 100% overweight

3. Children will be excluded who have a reported disability, illness, or disorder that
would significantly affect diet or activity behaviors

4. children identified by parents with significant food allergies

5. involvement with Stage II, structured weight management for obesity.