Study Protocol for a Home-based Obesity Prevention Program in Latino Preschool Children

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Community Health Interventions

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern, particularly in minority populations.
• Latino preschool children in emerging communities face unique challenges related to healthy weight promotion.
• Culturally-tailored interventions are crucial for effective health behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the study design for ANDALE Pittsburgh, a culturally-appropriate, family-based intervention.
• To promote a healthy weight in Latino preschool children.
• To address obesity prevention in an emerging Latino community.

Main Methods:

• Two-phase study: Phase I involved focus groups with parents to inform intervention development; Phase II tested feasibility and effectiveness.
• Recruitment through community channels in an emerging Latino community.
• A 10-week home-based intervention delivered by trained community health workers (promotoras), incorporating behavior modification strategies, healthy recipes, and physical activity.

Main Results:

• Child BMI and other outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention.
• Process evaluation examined fidelity, dose, reach, recruitment, and contextual factors using mixed methods.
• Focus groups informed the development of a culturally-tailored intervention curriculum.

Conclusions:

• The ANDALE Pittsburgh study expands knowledge on healthy weight interventions for Latino preschool children.
• The intervention, if successful, could serve as a model for addressing childhood obesity in similar populations.
• Further evaluation in a larger-scale trial is planned.