Results From La Vida Buena (The Good Life): A Quasi-Experimental Intervention of a Community Health Worker–Led Family-Based Childhood Obesity Program for Latino Children 5–8 Years of Age on the U.S.-Mexico Border

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the 8-week, community health worker (CHW)–led La Vida Buena childhood obesity program among Latino children 5 to 8 years old in a rural county along the U.S.-Mexico border. Methods This quasi-experimental study used a community-based participatory research approach to compare the effectiveness of the La Vida Buena (The Good Life) curriculum as compared with a single educational session. We took anthropomorphic measures and administered parent-reported nutrition and physical activity surveys at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The study took place between 2017 and 2020 in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Results Change in body mass index (BMI) z-score was negligible for both groups. The parent-reported behavior indicated a shift toward healthier family behaviors and environment in the intervention group. Implications for Practice This study adds to the growing literature of CHW-led childhood obesity interventions. The engagement of the CHWs in all aspects of the intervention helped to facilitate important behavior changes. Future interventions should emphasize health and wellness rather than BMI z-score and include community, socioeconomic, and systems-level interventions to promote healthy environments.

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the child‐level effects of family‐based interventions for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…The included studies were, however, characterized as sufficiently homogeneous to ensure a feasible and meaningful summary using random‐effect meta‐analyses. The random‐effect meta‐analyses presented in this review include the studies using RCT cluster‐RCT study design; that is, the eight studies using quasi‐experimental study design were excluded from the analyses 39–46 …”

“…The random-effect meta-analyses presented in this review include the studies using RCT cluster-RCT study design; that is, the eight studies using quasi-experimental study design were excluded from the analyses. [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] Mean difference (MD) measure of effect was used for all clinical biomarkers for T2D. As for the risk factors related to the development of T2D, MD measures of effect were used for BMI, BMI z-score, body fat, body weight, daily intake of fat, fruit, vegetable, and snacks.…”