Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Community-Based Weight Management Program for Latino Children.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Obesity
• Community Interventions

Background:

• Overweight and obesity rates are rising among children, particularly within minority immigrant populations.
• Culturally tailored, community-based interventions are needed to address pediatric weight management in diverse families.
• Latino immigrant families face unique barriers to healthy lifestyles, including access to resources and cultural dietary practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of a Spanish-language, community-based weight management program for overweight/obese Latino children.
• To assess the program's impact on children's weight status (%BMIp95) and family lifestyle behaviors.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to program participation and behavior change within this population.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods evaluation of a single-arm, exploratory pragmatic intervention trial involving 93 Latino immigrant family participants.
• Intervention: Community Active and Healthy Families program delivered in Spanish, focusing on culturally tailored weight management strategies.
• Measures included pre- and post-program height and weight, sociodemographic surveys, dietary and physical activity assessments, and parent/child interviews.

Main Results:

• The mean change in %BMIp95 was -2.24 (P=0.12), indicating a potential positive trend.
• Families attended an average of 4.5 out of 8 program sessions, demonstrating moderate feasibility.
• Interviews revealed high program acceptability, with positive feedback on hands-on activities and child physical activity time. Parents reported some dietary and physical activity changes, but cited cost and time as barriers.

Conclusions:

• The Community Active and Healthy Families program shows a preliminary signal of effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility.
• The program is well-suited for adaptation and demonstrates readiness for larger-scale implementation and effectiveness trials.
• Culturally tailored, community-based interventions are promising for addressing pediatric weight management in Latino immigrant families.