Correlates of food patterns in young Latino children at high risk of obesity. Issue 16 (29th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaiser, Lucia L; Aguilera, Alberto L; Horowitz, Marcel; Lamp, Catherine; Johns, Margaret; Gomez-Camacho, Rosa; Ontai, Lenna; de la Torre, Adela
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 18:Issue 16(2015)
• Page Start: 3042
• Page End: 3050
• Publication Date: 2015-01-29
• Subjects: Acculturation, -- Food patterns, -- Children, -- Gender, -- Latino; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980014003309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The present paper examines the influence of age and gender on food patterns of Latino children. Design: Data are from baseline of a 5-year, quasi-experimental obesity prevention study: Niños Sanos, Familia Sana (NSFS; Healthy Children, Healthy Families). In 2012, the researchers interviewed Latino parents, using a thirty-item questionnaire to ask about their children's food consumption and feeding practices. Statistical tests included t tests and ANCOVA. Setting: Rural communities in California's Central Valley, USA. Subjects: Two hundred and seventeen parents (87–89 % born in Mexico) and their children (aged 2–8 years). Results: Fifty-one per cent of the children were overweight or obese (≥85th percentile of BMI for age and gender). Mean BMI Z -scores were not significantly different in boys (1·10 (sd 1·07)) and girls (0·92 (sd 1·04); P =0·12). In bivariate analysis, children aged 2–4 years consumed fast and convenience foods less often ( P =0·04) and WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)-allowable foods more often than children aged 5–8 years ( P =0·01). In ANCOVA, neither age nor gender was significantly related to food patterns. Mother's acculturation level was positively related to children's consumption of fast and convenience foods ( P =0·0002) and negatively related to consumption of WIC foods ( P =0·01). Providing role modelling and structure in scheduling meals and snacks had a positive effect on the vegetable pattern ( P =0·0007), whereas meal skipping was associated with more frequent fast and convenience food consumption ( P =0·04). Conclusions: Acculturation and child feeding practices jointly influence food patterns in Latino immigrant children and indicate a need for interventions that maintain diet quality as children transition to school.