The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes, perceptions, and practices of WIC staff in Virginia, in educating WIC participants about topics related to childhood overweight. WIC staff reported a lack of comfort, practice, and confidence in addressing childhood overweight. researchers concluded that staff training, health promotion programs, and culturally relevant educational materials would help staff become knowledgeable and promote self-efficacy about childhood overweight-related topics.
This study investigated the associations between demographic, consumption, and activity variables and being overweight or at risk of becoming overweight for 2- to 4-year-olds enrolled in the WIC Program. The researchers found that 38% of the children were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Furthermore, race and ethnicity, increased non-juice drink consumption, and low levels of physical activity were associated with being overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.
The author explored the association between overweight low-income preschool children and sweet drink consumption. The results indicated that children at risk of overweight at baseline who consumed at least one sweet drink per day were more likely to become overweight.
The authors evaluated the television and video viewing habits of low-income preschool children and their relationship to a child's weight status. researchers found that TV viewing was associated with overweight in preschool children. The presence of a TV in the child's bedroom was even more strongly associated with an increased risk of being overweight.
This study evaluated whether low-income late postpartum women complied with the dietary guidelines. researchers found low compliance rates for recommended intake of grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy foods, total fat, and added sugar. They also found that several psychosocial factors were associated with unhealthy diets, including neglect of self-care, weight-related distress, negative body image, stress, and depressive symptoms.
WIC food package revisions appear associated with improved nutritional profiles of food purchases among WIC participating households compared with low-income nonparticipating households. These package revisions may encourage WIC families to make healthier choices among their overall packaged food purchases. WIC households purcase fewed calories, less sodium sugar and total fat along with refined grains, grain desserts and SSB. They also purchase more fruits and vegetables
Data on WIC Participation in Connecticut by race/ethnicity – FY2010-2015
This report, the latest in a series of annual reports on WIC eligibility, presents 2014 national and State estimates of the number of people eligible for WIC benefits and the percent of the eligible population covered by the program, including estimates by participant category. The report also provides estimates by region, State, U.S. territory, and race and ethnicity, as well as updated estimates for years 2005–2013.
Minority participants were significantly more likely to redeem higher-priced brands of infant F&Vs, but more likely to choose lower-priced brands of bread. Participants shopping in urban stores or mid sized stores (with 5-9 registers) were less likely to choose higher-priced brands compared to rural stores or large stores (with 9+ registers).
About 12% of WIC families fully redeemed their benefits in March, 2012. Compared with non- Arab/non-Hispanic families, Arab American WIC families were significantly more likely to use all of their monthly WIC benefits, even after controlling for family characteristics.