Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Risk factors for overweight in five- to six-year-old Hispanic-American children: A pilot study

  • Published:
Journal of Urban Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of and possible risk factors for overweight in a sample of 5- to 6-year-old Hispanic (predominantly Mexican American) children in Chicago, Illinois, to see if overweight is more common in more highly acculturated immigrant families. There were 250 kindergarten students (92% of those eligible) attending two public elementary schools serving primarily Mexican American neighborhoods measured for height and weight. Consenting mothers were interviewed (n=80) and measured (n=38). The interview tool covered demography, acculturation, infant and toddler feeding practices, current cating patterns and food preparation habits, physical activity, and psychosocial family characteristics. Overweight was conservatively defined as weight-for-height at or above the National Center for Health Statistics 95th percentile. The data were used to describe the prevalence of overweight. Overweight and nonoverweight children were compared on all survey variables using appropriate statistical tests, with significance set at .05. There were 23% of the total sample of children (n=250) and 26% of the subsample of children (those whose mothers were interviewed) who were overweight. Analysis limited to children in the subsample explored risk factors. The median score on the Acculturation Scale was 4.0 (range 2.4–10.4) on a scale of 2.4 (entirely not acculturated) to 12 (fully acculturated). There was no significant association between overweight and Acculturation Scale score. Overweight children were more likely than those not overweight to watch television for more than 3 hours during weekend days (48% vs. 22%, P=.03). Overweight children were also more likely to consume sweetened beverages (powdered drinks, soda pop, atole) daily (67% vs. 39%, P=.03). There was a trend indicating that free access to food at home increased the risk of overweight (P=0.06). No other family- or child-level variables were related to overweight. Only 40% of mothers with an overweight child correctly assessed these children as overweight. Approximately one quarter of the children in the study were overweight. Our hypothesis that their obesity was linked to acculturation was not confirmed. Longer hours of child television viewing on weekends and higher levels of sweetened beverage consumption were important behaviors associated with the occurrence of overweight. These data should be considered when designing future studies in this population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rosenbaum M, Leibel RL. Obesity in childhood. Pediatr Rev. 1989;11:43–55.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Fripp RR, Hodgson JL, Kwiterovich PO, et al. Aerobic capacity, obesity and atherosclerotic risk factors in male adolescents. Pediatrics. 1985;75:813–818.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Tracey VV, De NC, Harper JR. Obesity and respiratory infection in infants and young children. Br Med J. 1971;1:16–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Guo SS, Roche AF, Chumlea WC, et al. The predictive value of childhood body mass index values for overweight at age 36y. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;59:810–819.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Whitaker RC, Wright JA, Pepe MS, Seidel KD, Dietz WH. Predicting obesity in young adulthood from childhood and parental obesity. N Engl J Med. 1997;337:869–873.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Pi-Sunyer FX. Health implications of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991;53:1595S-1603S.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Stevens J, Jianwen C, Pamuk ER, Williamson DF, Thun MJ, Wood JL. The effect of age on association between body mass index and mortality. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Troiano RP, Flegal KM, Kuczmarski RJ, Campbell SM, Johnson CL. Overweight prevalence and trends for children and adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:1085–1088.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Gortmaker SL, Dietz WH, Sobol AM, Wehler CA. Increasing obesity in the United States. Am J Dis Child. 1987;141:535–549.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Mei Z, Scanlon KS, Grummer-Strawn LM, Freedman DS, Yip R, Trowbridge FL. Increasing prevalence of overweight among US low-income preschool children: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pediatrics Nutrition Surveillance, 1983 to 1995. Pediatrics. 1998;101:E12. Available at: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/101/1/e12. Accessed June, 2003.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Must A, Gortmaker SL, Dietz WH. Risk factors for obesity in young adults: Hispanics, African Americans and whites in the transition years, age 16–28 years. Biomed Pharmacother. 1994;48:143–156.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ogden CL, Troiano RP, Briefel RR, Kuczmarski RJ, Flegal KM, Johnson CL. Prevalence of overweight among preschool children in the United States, 1971 through 1994. Pediatrics. 1997;99:E1. Available at: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/99/4/e1. Accessed October, 2000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hamill PVV, Drizd TA, Johnson CL, Reed RB, Roche AF, Moore MW. Physical growth: National Center for Health Statistics Percentiles. Am J Clin Nutr. 1979;32:607–629.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lohman TG, Roche AF, Martorell R, eds. Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Books; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Marin G, Sabogal F, Marin-VanOss B, Sabogal-Otero R, Perez-Stable EJ. Development of a short acculturation scale for Hispanics. Hispanic J Behav Sci. 1987;9:183–205.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cuellar I, Harris L, Jasso R. An acculturation scale for Mexican American normal and clinical populations. Hispanic J Behav Sci. 1980;2:199–217.

    Google Scholar 

  17. DuRant RH, Baranowski T, Puhl J, et al. Evaluation of the Children’s Activity Rating Scale (CARS) in young children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;25:1415–1421.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Noland M, Danner F, Dewalt K, McFadden M, Kotchen JM. The measurement of physical activity in young children. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1993;61:146–153.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kramer MS, Barr RG, Leduc DG, Boisjoly C, Pless BI. Maternal psychological determinants of infant obesity. J Chron Dis. 1983;36:329–335.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Saltzer EB. The Weight Locus of Control (WLOC) Scale: a specific measure for obesity research. J Pers Assess. 1982;46:620–628.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Dibley MJ, Goldsby JB, Staehling NW, Trowbridge FL. Development of normalized curves for the international growth reference: historical and technical considerations. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987;46:736–748.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System—United States, 1980–1991. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1992;41:SS1-SS24.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Institute of Medicine. Anthropometric Risk Criteria. WIC Nutrition Risk Criteria: a Scientific Assessment. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1996:122.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Epi Info [computer program]. Version 6. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1994.

  25. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, North American Association for the Study of Obesity. The Practical Guide. Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. NIH Publication Number 00-4084. October 2000.

  26. Trowbridge FL. Prevalence of growth stunting and obesity: Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System, 1982. MMWR CDC Surveill Summ. 1983;32(4):23SS-26SS.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Trowbridge FL, Marks JS, Lopez de Romana G, Madrid S, Boutton T, Klein P. Body composition of Peruvian children with short stature and high weight-for-height. II. Implications for the interpretation for weight-for-height as an indicator of nutritional status. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987;46:411–418.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Guinn B, Semper T, Crofts A. Anthropometric comparisons among low-income Mexican-American children aged 10 through 14. J Am Diet Assoc. 1986;86:57–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Zive MM, McKay H, Frank-Sopher GC, Broyles SL, Nelson JA, Nader PR. Infant-feeding practices and adiposity in 4-year-old Anglo- and Mexican-Americans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992;55:1104–1108.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dietz WH, Gortmaker SL. Do we fatten our children at the television set? Obesity and television viewing in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 1997;75:807–812.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Robinson TN, Hammer LD, Killen JD, et al. Does television viewing increase obesity and reduce physical activity? Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses among adolescent girls. Pediatrics. 1993;91:273–280.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Dennison BA, Rockwell HL, Baker SL. Excess fruit juice consumption by preschool-aged children is associated with short stature and obesity. Pediatrics. 1997;99:15–22.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Skinner JD, Carruth BR, Moran J, et al. Fruit juice intake is not related to children’s growth. Pediatrics. 1999;103:58–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Gutin B, Manos TM. Physical activity in the prevention of childhood obesity. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1993;699:115–125.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Gutin B, Baranowski T, Manos T, et al. Relations among fatness, physical activity, diet, resting metabolism, and fitness in 3–7-year-old children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;25:s-91.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Taylor W, Baranowski T. Physical activity, cardiovascular fitness, and adiposity in children. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1991;62:157–163.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Baranowski T, Thompson WO, DuRant RH, Baranowski J, Puhl J. Observations on physical activity in physical locations: age, gender, ethnicity, and month effects. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1993;65,2:127–133.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ehling MB. The Mexican-American (El Chicano). In Clark AL, ed. Culture and Childrearing. Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis; 1981:92–209.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Baughcum AE, Chamberlin LA, Deeks CM, Powers SW, Whitaker RC. Maternal perceptions of overweight preschool children. Pediatrics. 2000;106:1380–1385.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Jain A, Sherman SN, Chamberlin LA, Carter Y, Powers SW, Whitaker RC. Why don’t low-income mothers worry about their preschoolers being overweight? Pediatrics. 2001;107:1138–1143.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Lizarzaburu JL, Palinkas LA. Immigration, acculturation and risk factors for obesity and cardiovascular disease: a comparison between Latinos of Peruvian descent in Peru and in the United States. Ethn Dis. 2002;12:342–352.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Cantero PJ, Richardson JL, Baezconde-Garbanati L, Marks G. The association between acculturation and health practices among middle-aged and elderly Latinas. Ethn Dis. 1999;9:166–180.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Garcia-Maas LD. Intergenerational analysis of dietary practices and health perceptions of Hispanic women and their adult daughters. J Transcultural Nurs. 1999;10:213–219.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Adolfo J. Ariza MD,  Helen J. Binns &  Katherine Kaufer Christoffel

  2. Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Children’s Memorial Hospital, #157, 2300 Children’s Plaza, 60614, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Adolfo J. Ariza MD,  Helen J. Binns &  Katherine Kaufer Christoffel

  3. School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Edwin H. Chen

Authors
  1. Adolfo J. Ariza MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Edwin H. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Helen J. Binns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Katherine Kaufer Christoffel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adolfo J. Ariza MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ariza, A.J., Chen, E.H., Binns, H.J. et al. Risk factors for overweight in five- to six-year-old Hispanic-American children: A pilot study. J Urban Health 81, 150–161 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jth091

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jth091

Keywords

Search

Navigation