Journal Article

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effectiveness of a Multisector Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention

Colchamiro, Rachel, Kwass, JoAnn, Taveras, Elsie M., Nelson, Candace C., Woo Baidal, Jennifer A., Perkins, Meghan, Leung-Strle, Peggy

2018

Overview

Objectives. To investigate racial/ethnic and language differences in the effectiveness of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) study among children aged 2 to 4 years enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Methods. We performed a multisector quasiexperimental study in 2 MA-CORD intervention communities and 1 comparison community. Using WIC data from 2010 to 2015, we examined intervention effect on child weight and behavior outcomes by child race/ethnicity and parental primary language using multilevel linear regression models with an interaction term. Results. Non-Hispanic Black children exposed to the intervention demonstrated a greater decrease in body mass index (BMI) than did other children (P < .05). Racial/ethnic minority children in the comparison site had greater increases in BMI than did their White counterparts (P < .05). There were no differences in intervention effectiveness by race/ethnicity or language for health behaviors. Conclusions. White children demonstrated decreased BMI in both the intervention and control groups. However, intervention minority children demonstrated greater improvements in BMI than did control minority children. Public Health Implications. To reduce racial/ethnic disparities, we need to disseminate effective obesity prevention interventions during early childhood in low-income settings.

• Publisher: American Public Health Association
• Subject: AJPH Open-Themed Research / Black people / Black white differences / Black youth / Body mass index / Body size / Body weight / Childhood / Childhood obesity / Children / Childrens health / Cultural differences / Early childhood education / Early intervention / Effectiveness / Ethnic differences / Ethnic factors / Ethnic groups / Ethnicity / Health behavior / Health care policy / Infants / Intervention / Language / Low income groups / Low-Income Children / Minority & ethnic groups / Minority Children / Minority groups / Mothers / Nutrition / Nutrition programs / Obesity / Other Child and Adolescent Health / Overweight / Parent-child relations / Prevention / Prevention programs / Public health / Quasi-experimental methods / Race / Racial differences / Racial inequality / Regression analysis / Regression models / Underweight / Weight / Women / Womens health