An obesity preventive intervention program for preschool families, Healthy Balance, was tested in 2 sequential pilot trials. The first pilot tested the original and translated group intervention in a heterogeneous population (65 families), and the second tested the feasibility of a culturally adapted version for Latinx immigrant families (27 families). No significant study 1 intervention effects were found. However, in study 2, there were significant improvements in parent body mass index, neck circumference, and blood pressure. These studies suggest that targeting family system change and tailoring the intervention for Latinx immigrant populations is feasible and has the potential to improve obesity-related biomarkers.

To understand links between early experience and biomarkers of peripheral physiology in adulthood, this study examined associations between quality of early caregiving and markers of sympathetic activation and chronic inflammation in a sample of 52 low‐income mothers and their preschool‐aged children. Mothers reported on levels of positive caregiving experienced during childhood using the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior‐Intrex. Mother and child sympathetic activation was indexed via pre‐ejection period (PEP) at rest, during a dyadic social engagement task, and for children, while interacting with an unfamiliar adult. C‐reactive protein (CRP) was collected using whole blood spots to assess levels of low‐grade chronic inflammation. Results showed that mothers who reported experiencing more warm guidance and support for autonomy in early childhood displayed lower resting sympathetic nervous system activation (i.e., longer PEP) and lower chronic inflammation (i.e., CRP levels). Further, lower maternal chronic inflammation levels were associated with lower sympathetic activation (i.e., longer PEP) in their children at rest, and during social interactions with mother and a female stranger.

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