Culturally Competent Interventions to Address Obesity Among African American and Latino Children and Youth

Abstract

While obesity impacts all ethnic groups in the United States, African Americans and Latinos are particularly at high risk for obesity. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the literature on evidence-based culturally competent strategies for addressing and preventing obesity and discuss roles for occupational therapists working with populations at risk for obesity in the school or therapeutic clinical environment. A review was conducted of over 80 research articles describing successful interventions conducted in schools and communities targeting African Americans and Latino children. Although unique single strategies are highlighted in this paper, obesity interventions are complex and involved a number of multilevel strategies. The results of the analysis of the literature are presented according to strategies that promote healthy eating, physical activity, and overall healthy lifestyles. Along with the cultural competent strategies, we recommend specific roles for occupational therapists in order to promote the implementation of each particular strategy. Lastly, implications for occupational therapy are discussed.

GRAIDs: a framework for closing the gap in the availability of health promotion programs and interventions for people with disabilities

“…Cultural competency in this study referred to the applicability of the strategy to the norms, values and beliefs of ethnically and racially diverse (e.g., African American and Latino) youth and adults with disabilities [34]. A culturally competent intervention met the following criteria: the intervention was based on the cultural values of the target group; the strategies that made up the intervention reflected the subjective cultural characteristics, including interests, expectations, and norms of members of diverse race and ethnic groups; and the components that made up the strategies reflected the behavioral preferences and expectations of the members of the target group [34,35]. The five Cultural Competency workgroup members had backgrounds in race/ethnic diversity and were selected because of their combined expertise in cultural competency, and disability and health promotion.…”

A Systematic Review of Literature on Culturally Adapted Obesity Prevention Interventions for African American Youth

“…In the past decade, there has been an increase in research reporting the effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions that target AA youth (Barr-Anderson, Adams-Wynn, Disantis, & Kumanyika, 2013; Ickes & Sharma, 2011; Knowlden & Sharma, 2013; Nwobu & Johnson, 2007; Seo & Sa, 2010; Suarez-Balcazar, Friesema, & Lukyanova, 2013). However, despite the increasing number of obesity prevention interventions targeting AA youth, researchers have found the success of these interventions to be inconsistent (Barr-Anderson et al, 2013; Ickes & Sharma, 2011; Knowlden & Sharma, 2013; Nwobu & Johnson, 2007).…”

“…The lack of successful obesity prevention interventions for AA youth has presented a challenge in obesity prevention research (Antin & Hunt, 2012; Kumanyika et al, 2012; Stevens, 2010). So researchers have begun to explore other avenues that may positively influence intervention outcomes, such as the influence of culture and the lack of culturally adapted obesity interventions that exist for AA youth (Knowlden & Sharma, 2013; Seo & Sa, 2010; Suarez-Balcazar et al, 2013).…”

“…Culturally adapted interventions, also referred to as “culturally sensitive,” “culturally tailored,” “culturally targeted,” “culturally appropriate,” “culturally relevant,” and “culturally based” interventions, provide a context to interventions by integrating culturally adapted strategies that are relevant to the values and beliefs held by a cultural group (Castro, Barrera, & Holleran-Steiker, 2010; Ickes & Sharma, 2011; Kumanyika et al, 2012; Resnicow, Baranowski, Ahluwalia, & Braithwaite, 1999; Seo & Sa, 2010; Suarez-Balcazar et al, 2013). Examples of cultural adaptation strategies within a culturally adapted intervention may include incorporating focus groups that guide the design of the intervention and selection of culturally acceptable materials, foods, and activities (Ickes & Sharma, 2011; Knowlden & Sharma, 2013; Seo & Sa, 2010).…”

Benefits of a Culturally Tailored Health Promotion Program for Latino Youth With Disabilities and Their Families

“…Moreover, occupational therapists are well suited to address factors contributing to obesity because of their focus on participation as a means to promote health (Forhan, 2008). Occupational therapists, especially those working in community settings and schools, can make an impact on the rate of obesity by designing occupation-focused (Kugel, 2010) and culturally tailored (Suarez- Balcazar, Friesema, & Lukyanova, 2013) interventions in the community, school, or home in collaboration with parents and teachers.…”