Obesity-related Behaviors of US- and Non-US-born Parents and Children in Low-income Households

Abstract

Objective To examine differences in obesity-related behaviors by parental US born status among low-income, minority families participating in Healthy Habits, Happy Homes, an intervention trial to improve household routines for childhood obesity prevention. Evidence suggests lower obesity risk among adult immigrants, but research is inconclusive regarding the influence of having a non-US born parent on childhood obesity. Method We sampled 57 US born and 64 non-US born families of children ages 2–5.9 years living in the Boston area. At baseline, parents reported their own screen time, physical activity, diet, and sleep as well as their children’s behaviors. We used linear and logistic regression to examine the association of parental US born status with obesity-related behaviors. Results Mean (SD) BMI z-score was 0.94 (1.16) and did not differ between groups. After adjusting for parental education and child race/ethnicity, children of non-US (v. US) born parents had later bedtimes (0.81 hours later; 95% CI: 0.37, 1.25) and wake-up times (0.56 hours later; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.95) and engaged in less active play (0.15 fewer hours/day; 95% CI: −0.28, −0.01). Non-US (v. US) born parents had less screen exposure. Conclusion In this cross-section of low-income, urban families, having a parent born outside the US was associated with a profile of risk and protective behavior; adjustment for education and race/ethnicity removed protective associations of parental nativity with child behavior. Obesity-related differences in behaviors and home environments should be considered when designing interventions targeting low-income communities with a high proportion of non-US born participants.

Latino parents’ perceptions of the eating and physical activity experiences of their pre-school children at home and at family child-care homes: a qualitative study

“…This finding is important because previous studies indicate that children living in households with regular family routines (e.g. regularly eating meals as a family) are at lower risk of obesity than those who do not have household routines (10)(11)(12) . Although it is essential that parents recognize the importance of healthful behaviours, parents need to have the self-efficacy to make changes to the home and family environment that support children's healthy eating and PA (27,28) .…”

A review of early influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviors of preschool‐age children in high‐income countries

“…Cespedes, McDonald, Haines, Bottino, and Taveras () examined obesity‐related behaviors in urban, low‐income, and non‐US‐ and US‐born racial/ethnic minority preschool‐age children (34% Black, 52% Hispanic) and found that time spent in active play was lower among children whose parents were born outside the United States than among those whose parents were born in United States, after adjusting for parental education.…”

“…Findings from studies included in this review elucidated multilevel factors at various levels in the social–ecological model that influence preschool‐age children's PA levels and behaviors. At the individual level, factors associated with differing levels of PA include SES and the child's sex (Annesi, Smith, & Tennant, ; Bagley et al., ; Cespedes et al., ; Chuang, Sharman, Skala, & Evans, ; Kumanyika & Grier, ; Montgomery et al., ; O'Connor et al., ; Pate et al., ; Salmon et al., ; Sisson et al., ; Suen et al., ; Vale et al., ; Van Cauwenberghe et al., ). At the individual level, some factors suggest that the lack of PA may have to do with lack of access or insufficient family resources to make PA a priority (e.g., SES, family structure), while other factors suggest parental values come into play (child's sex and cultural context).…”

Comparison of physical activity as an obesity-related behavior between immigrants and native-born US adults

“…The latter finding is somewhat at variance with the established direct correlation between lower socioeconomic/educational indices and the prevalence of obesity in native-born US residents. Explanations proffered in literature for this "immigrant paradox" include a 'healthy immigrant' effect (HIE), the protective influence of strong social networks and family ties, and even a reporting bias (Cespedes et al, 2013). The observed lower risk of obesity among US immigrants is all the more interesting in the light of increasing rates of obesity in countries like Mexico that account for a high proportion of immigrants to the US (Ogden et al, 2012).…”