Weight Management for Mexican American Children

Guide to Effective Programs
for Children and Youth

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN

OVERVIEW

The goal of this program is to reduce weight and improve the quality of life for at-risk-for-overweight and overweight Mexican-American children through modification of eating and physical activity behaviors. Compared with children in a self-help program, those in an instructor-led 12-week program were more likely to lose weight. Impacts were also found for physical quality of life scores.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Sixth- and Seventh-grade students

This program aims to improve the quality of life for at-risk-for-overweight and overweight Mexican-American children by modifying eating and physical activity behaviors. The logic of the model is that improvements in quality of life will make weight loss efforts more acceptable and encourage maintenance of behavior changes to sustain weight loss. The intensive instructor-led-intervention (ILI) includes 1 nutrition class and 4 physical activity classes weekly for 12 weeks. Behavioral strategies (including self-monitoring, goal setting, and controlling environmental cues) are used to increase healthy behaviors. Also included in the intervention are monthly evening parent training sessions and monthly booster sessions.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Fullerton, G., Tyler, C., Johnston, C. A., Vincent, J. P., Harris, G. E., & Foreyt, J. P. (2007) Quality of life in Mexican-American children following a weight management program. Obesity, 15, 2553-2556.

Evaluated population: Participants included 80 sixth- and seventh-grade (mean age, 12.1 years) Mexican-American children who were at-risk-for-overweight (85^th to 95^th percentile on CDC growth charts) and overweight (over 95^th percentile).

Approach: Participants were randomized to one of two treatment conditions aimed at modifying eating and physical activity behaviors – either the instructor-led-intervention or the self-help condition. Outcomes measured include changes in weight (body mass index), total quality of life scales, physical quality of life, psychosocial quality of life, and subscales including emotional, social, and school functioning.

Results: There were significant impacts at the six-month follow-up physical quality of life, with an effect size of .24 for children in the instructor-led intervention (ILI) condition. Children in the ILI condition also achieved significantly great weight loss (as measured by BMI). Impacts were not found for total quality of life or psychosocial quality of life.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

References:
Fullerton, G., Tyler, C., Johnston, C. A., Vincent, J. P., Harris, G. E., & Foreyt, J. P. (2007) Quality of life in Mexican-American children following a weight management program. Obesity, 15, 2553-2556.

KEYWORDS: Adolescents (12-17), Middle School, Hispanic/Latino, Urban, Skills Training, Obesity, Other Physical Health, Other Social/Emotional Health, Other Education

Program information last updated on 10/24/11.