Journal Article

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

By Nelson C, Colchamiro R, Perkins M, Taveras E, Leung-Strle P, Kwass J, Woo Baidal J

Abstract

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.

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Date Added
February 10, 2019

Citation
Nelson C, Colchamiro R, Perkins M, Taveras E, Leung-Strle P, Kwass J, Woo Baidal J (2018) Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effectiveness of a Multisector Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention. American Journal of Public Health: Vol. 108, Issue 9, pp 1200-1206. Available online: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304511