Low-Income Immigrant Hispanic Mothers' Concerns and Perceptions of Their Young Child's Weight

Abstract

Objectives: To describe how low-income Hispanic immigrant mothers' concerns and perceptions of her child's health, along with her concerns for herself becoming overweight, relate to her (a) concerns that her child will become overweight and (b) underestimation of her child's weight status.

Design and sample: Cross-sectional survey and direct body composition assessments were collected among 96 low-income Hispanic mothers and their young children from Houston-area community centers.

Measures: Data were collected on maternal concerns and perceptions of child's weight and health, concerns about her own weight, demographic characteristics, and measured child's height and weight.

Results: Fifty-four percent of mothers with an overweight/obese child perceived their child was "about the right weight." Mothers concerned with becoming overweight themselves had 3 times higher odds of being concerned that her child would become overweight (OR = 3.01, p < .01). Mothers who perceived their child as less healthy had approximately 2 times higher odds of underestimating their child's weight (OR = 1.86, p < .01).

Conclusions: Short screeners that focus on maternal concerns about herself and her child becoming overweight, along with perceptions of her child's health and weight status, may assist nurses in effectively tailoring their health message at point of care.

Keywords: Latinos; obesity; overweight; poverty.