The purpose of this study was to examine child and parent determinants of children’s body fat percentage (BF%) along with their body mass index percentile (BMIp). Children’s BF% and BMIp auger lifelong health risks when elevated, and one in five children are affected. Participants ( N = 135) included 62% female children; 50.7% Caucasian, 31.7% Hispanic, and 8.5% African American. Children were aged 9–15 years (2% underweight, 47.9% normal weight, 19.7% overweight, and 24.6% obese). Parent BMI average was 30.67 (1.4% underweight, 20.4% normal weight, 23.9% overweight, 40% obese, and 7% extreme obesity); 77.5% of the participating parents were mothers. Following multiple imputations, path analyses were conducted of child and parent determinants of children’s BF% and BMIp. Children’s BF% and BMIp were related to parents’ concern about overweight and children’s perception of that concern. For children of overweight or obese parents, who are at highest risk for obesity, assessing the parents’ concern is the highest priority.
Introduction: Mexican origin (MO) women comprise the largest Hispanic subgroup of Latinas in the United States. This subgroup has high incidences of obesity and associated chronic diseases. Modifiable risk factors for these include unhealthy diets and eating patterns. Efforts to understand eating patterns of Hispanics have focused on primarily first-generation Hispanics. The purpose of this study was to explore U.S.-born MO women’s descriptions about eating patterns. Method: A qualitative exploratory-descriptive study, using a thematic analysis approach, was employed. Fifteen MO women were interviewed. The participants were second to fourth generation and reported higher educational attainment, middle-income socioeconomic brackets, and English proficiency compared with previous groups studied. Results: Five themes were identified: (a) personal agency, (b) relationships with people about food, (c) cultural and familial influences, (d) environments, and (e) time and money. Themes comprised multiple factors to classify the varied aspects of the women’s eating patterns. Conclusion: This study provides insights about descriptions of eating patterns from a subgroup, generational, and gender-specific perspective that extended beyond acculturative and homogeneous group viewpoints to a broader structural view. The structural layers that affected the women’s eating patterns were multifaceted and complex.
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