USDA Research Combats Childhood Obesity: A Collection of Projects that Integrate Research, Education, and Extension Targeting Low-Income, Ethnically Diverse Children and Families

Abstract

he purpose of this supplement, ''USDA Research to Combat Childhood Obesity,'' is to showcase examples of recent projects to advance obesity prevention for the most vulnerable population, low-income children. The six included articles highlight a diversity of research projects, low-income target audiences, and settings. 1-6 These settings include medical clinics, 1 elementary, 2 middle and high schools, 3 Head Start, 4,5 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), 4,5 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), 6 and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). 6 In addition, several studies in this issue examine intervention impact with a focus on the child and parent/family to address childhood obesity through infant feeding, 1 school lunch participation, 3 media literacy, 6 school gardening, and physical activity. 2 Two studies address development and validation of assessment tools for child obesogenic risk and food parenting practices. 4,5 Specifics about these six articles follows. Messito and colleagues examined the effectiveness of the Starting Early Program with 533 Hispanic pregnant and postpartum mothers in a randomized control trial. 1 Implemented in the medical clinic setting, the intervention included nutrition counseling with nutrition and parenting support groups coordinated with pediatric medical clinic visits. Intervention mothers compared to mothers in the usual care control group were more likely to give breast milk and prioritize family meals. They were less likely to give juice or cereal in the bottle. Intervention mothers also exhibited lower pressuring, indulgent, and laissez-faire