Interventions that impact weight status in Hispanic preschool children

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objectives of this systematic review of literature include: (a) describe the intervention strategies; (b) examine the outcomes as they pertain to the child (individual level), families (interpersonal level), and community or culture (organizational level); and (c) develop a foundation of interventional approaches that specifically target obesogenic behaviors in Hispanic preschool‐aged children.DesignA systematic review of literature was performed. The theoretical framework was the Socioecological Model.SampleTwenty‐four total articles were used for this review.MeasurementsThe method used was the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines.ResultsOf the 24 studies reviewed, 36% focused on the individual, 56% were interpersonal (focused on parents), and 9% focused on the organizational level.ConclusionInterventions that are culturally competent, directed at families, and include healthy dietary intake along with a physical activity component are most effective at lowering obesity in Hispanic preschool children.

Pediatric Obesity Prevention and Treatment Among Hispanics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Previous studies have described a lack of cultural relevance of interventions as contributing to smaller effects for Hispanics, with 1 systematic review concluding that culturally competent interventions are most effective at reducing obesity. 11 This was only supported for pre −post studies in this meta-analysis, although most studies did incorporate linguistic strategies (76%).…”

“…However, throughout the last decade, there have been 9 systematic reviews examining obesity prevention and treatment among Hispanic youth in the U.S. 3−11 These reviews have reported mixed results 4,6 or only individual study effect sizes suggesting small-to-moderate intervention effects on youth weight status. 3,5,6 These reviews concluded that interventions with significant findings were generally grounded in theory 3,8 and had older children, 3 parental involvement, 3,5,8,9,11 multiple settings, 9 longer implementation periods, 3,10 and higher ratings of study quality than other studies. 6 Notably, each of the reviews mentioned earlier included only 4 −24 interventions; was limited to examining studies targeted at specific age ranges (e.g., only preschool), 11 intervention designs (e.g., only RCTs), settings (e.g., only school-based), or types (e.g., treatment only); and focused almost exclusively on weight status rather than on lifestyle behaviors.…”

Central American Parents’ Preferences for Content and Modality for a Family-Centered Intervention to Promote Healthful Energy Balance-Related Behaviors of Their Preschool-Age Children

“…Latinx children represent a fast-growing population in the United States and are expected to represent 31.9% of the total United States children population [14]. Nonetheless, to date, most childhood obesity interventions designed for Latinx families in the United States have focused on mothers and Mexican American and Mexican immigrant populations [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Central American immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, also known as the Northern Triangle countries, are the fastest-growing Latinx population in the United States [22].…”

Developing Educational Games for Preschool Children to Improve Dietary Choices and Exercise Capacity

“…The Head Start system facilitates the involvement of the child's care givers. Dietary interventions that provide education about childhood nutrition to Hispanic caregivers are a potent predictor of family dietary changes and weight loss, as noted in the review of interventions to improve risk of obesity in Hispanic preschool children [11]. Serious games are an accepted venue to change dietary and exercise habits and have been used in Europe and the United States with the aim of improving nutrition, particularly the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and water, and increased exercise in children [12].…”

“…In a review of nutrition education and dietary behavior change games, Baranowski, et al [12] concluded that many articles reported positive outcome but more objective outcome measures and randomized populations should be used. However, the review of interventions in Hispanic preschool children by Inella et al [11]) and the review of Ickes et al [13] point out that the objective outcome of weight reduction may depend on multiple factors, particularly economic interventions. This is illustrated by the study of Pan et al [17], which reported that the WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) change in benefits to promote the purchase of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains correlated with a decrease in severe obesity from 2.12% to 1.96% in children whose mothers were in the program.…”