Family Mealtime Communication in Single- and Dual-Headed Households Among Hispanic Adolescents With Overweight and Obesity

To investigate the association of adolescent self-report of family mealtime communication on obesity-related behaviors in single- and dual-parent households and by sex in a sample of overweight and obese Hispanic adolescents. Cross-sectional analysis of a randomized control trial Eighteen middle schools in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Two-hundred and eighty Hispanic seventh- and eighth-grade students Physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and added sugar intake. Structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that mealtime communication was associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in boys (β = .30; P = .001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52–2.68) and physical activity in girls (β = .26; P = .010; 95% CI, 0.16–1.30). Moreover, a single-parent household was associated with dietary consumption in boys (fruit and vegetable intake [β= .18; P = .039; 95% CI, 0.02–2.60] but had a moderating effect on fruit and vegetable consumption in girls (β = .21; P = .015; 95% CI, 0.14–2.19). Family mealtime communication may impact dietary and physical activity outcomes in Hispanic adolescents with overweight and obesity, but differentially across gender and household parent makeup. These findings, together with the prevalence of single parents, point to the importance of targeting Hispanic single parents as agents of change to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in their children via positive mealtime interactions

Infant Nutrition and Other Early Life Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity According to Disability Status

One in five preschool-aged children in the United States is obese, and children with disabilities are significantly impacted. This study aimed to determine the association between age at solid food initiation and obesity prevalence in preschool-aged children while considering disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. Analysis was conducted on a sample of 145 children aged 2 to 5 years who were enrolled in ten childcare centers. Parents completed a survey assessing disability status, race and ethnicity, birth weight, gestational age, and age of solid food initiation. Height and weight were collected concurrently. Multivariable logistic regression models generated the odds of developing obesity based on age at solid food initiation, disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. There was no significant difference in the odds of being obese based on age at solid food introduction. Children with disabilities (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.6, p = 0.01) and children born preterm (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08–0.79, p = 0.03) had significantly lower odds of being obese. Hispanic children (OR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.91–15.32, p = 0.002) and children with higher birth weights (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.17–1.92, p = 0.002) were more likely to be obese. With pediatric obesity rates continuing to rise, these findings can inform future intervention efforts