摘要：Overweight is the most prevalent nutrition related problem for children of all ages in the U.S. Despite this there is a paucity of research linking specific lifestyle behaviors with risk for overweight in young children. The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess family eating and activity lifestyle behaviors associated with overweight in low-income preschool age children. Mothers (n=132) of children (n=141) aged 2-5 participating in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program in Butte County, CA, were selected via a sample of convenience. A Family Activity and Eating Habits questionnaire was administered during regularly scheduled WIC appointments. Higher maternal questionnaire scores indicated more positive weight related behaviors. Analysis of variance was used to test for differences in child’s BMI for maternal questionnaire scores, however, no significant differences were found. Correlation analysis identified a positive relationship between mother’s BMI and child’s BMI-for-age percentile such that as mother’s BMI increased, child’s BMI-for-age percentile increased (r=.191; p=.033). Four weight related behaviors were associated with children’s weight, including a significant association between fast food consumption and child’s BMI-for-age percentile (r=.202; p=.016). Mean BMI-for-age percentiles were significantly higher for Hispanic compared to white children (p=.001). 42% of the Hispanic children were above the 85th BMI-for-age percentile compared to 26% for the white preschool age children. Despite this higher rate, Hispanic children were significantly less likely to eat while watching TV (p=.003). Study results suggest that the mothers of these preschool age children were knowledgeable about positive lifestyle behaviors, but additional measures are needed to promote a healthy BMI-for-age for young, low-income children.
