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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #355865
Title: Predictors of severe obesity in low-income, predominantly hispanic/latino children: The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration study

Author
item SALAHUNDDIN, MELIHA - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
item PEREZ, ADRIANA - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
item RANJIT, NALINI - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
item KELDER, STEVEN - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
item BARLOW, SARAH - TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
item PONT, STEPHEN - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
item BUTTE, NANCY - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC)
item HOELSCHER, DEANNA - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER

Submitted to: Preventing Chronic Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2017
Publication Date: 12/1/2017
Citation: Salahunddin, M., Perez, A., Ranjit, N., Kelder, S.H., Barlow, S.E., Pont, S.J., Butte, N.F., Hoelscher, D.M. 2017. Predictors of severe obesity in low-income, predominantly hispanic/latino children: The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration study. Preventing Chronic Disease. 14:1-11. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd14.170129.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd14.170129

Interpretive Summary: Given the high prevalence, adverse metabolic effects, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities, and high economic costs of severe childhood obesity, it is imperative to understand its associated risk factors. While childhood obesity has leveled off in the United States, severe obesity (defined as a body mass index (BMI) =120% of 95th percentile), has continued to increase. Early-life, maternal, and behavioral factors associated with severe obesity were explored among a sample of low-income, predominantly Hispanic/Latino children aged 2 to 12 years who participated in the Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (TX CORD) study. Large-for-gestational-age and maternal severe obesity were identified as significant predictors of severe obesity. Other factors such as being breastfed exclusively for the first 4 months of life, children's fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and screen time were not found to be significant predictors of severe obesity. Identification of risk factors associated with severe obesity in an underrepresented and at-risk Hispanic population may inform preventative and treatment strategies to reduce the prevalence of severe childhood obesity.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to identify predictors of severe obesity in a low-income, predominantly Hispanic/Latino sample of children in Texas. This cross-sectional analysis examined baseline data on 517 children from the secondary prevention component of the Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (TX CORD) study; data were collected from September 2012 through February 2014. Self-administered surveys were used to collect data from parents of children who were aged 2 to 12 years, had a body mass index (BMI) in the 85th percentile or higher, and resided in Austin, Texas, or Houston, Texas. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic covariates were used to examine associations of children's early-life and maternal factors (large-for-gestational-age, exclusive breastfeeding for >=4 months, maternal severe obesity [BMI >=35.0 kg/m2]) and children’s behavioral factors (fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, screen time) with severe obesity (BMI >=120% of 95th percentile), by age group (2–5 y, 6–8 y, and 9–12 y). Across all ages, 184 (35.6%) children had severe obesity. Among children aged 9 to 12 years, large-for-gestational-age at birth (odds ratio [OR] = 2.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–4.73) was significantly associated with severe obesity. Maternal severe obesity was significantly associated with severe obesity among children aged 2 to 5 years (OR = 2.67; 95% CI, 1.10–6.47) and 9 to 12 years (OR = 4.12; 95% CI, 1.84–9.23). No significant association was observed between behavioral factors and severe obesity in any age group. In this low-income, predominantly Hispanic/Latino sample of children, large-for-gestational-age and maternal severe obesity were risk factors for severe obesity among children in certain age groups. Promoting healthy lifestyle practices during preconception and prenatal periods could be an important intervention strategy for addressing childhood obesity.