ABSTRACT. Objective. The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing in the United States. However, it has been difficult to help children successfully lose weight and maintain weight loss. Parental involvement in this effort is important. Currently, little is known about parents' readiness to make behavior changes to help their children lose weight. The objective of this study was to describe demographic factors and parental perceptions associated with parents' readiness to make weight-reducing lifestyle changes for their overweight and at-risk-foroverweight children.Methods. A total of 151 parents of children who were aged 2 to 12 years and had BMIs >85th percentile for age and gender completed a 43-item self-administered questionnaire. Parental stage of change, defined as precontemplation stage, contemplation stage, and preparation/ action stage, was determined using an algorithm involving current parental practices and future intentions. Parents in the preparation/action stage were considered to be ready to make behavior changes to help their child lose weight. Maximum-likelihood multinomial logistic regression was used to identify demographics and perceptions associated with parental stage of change.Results. Sixty-two percent of the children had a BMI >95th percentile. Their mean age was 7.5 years, and 53% were male. Of the 151 parents, 58 (38%) were in the preparation/action stage of change, 26 (17%) were in the contemplation stage, and 67 (44%) were in the precontemplation stage. Factors associated with being in the preparation/action stage of change were having overweight or older (>8 years) children, believing that their own weight or child's weight was above average, and perceiving that their child's weight was a health problem. After controlling for multiple factors, having an older child (odds ratio ABBREVIATIONS. OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.[

Vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased odds of primary cesarean section.

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Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in the United States have elevated rates of breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity. Elevated rates persist regardless of demographic factors that are traditionally linked with low breastfeeding rates.