Family Factors and Body Mass Index Among Korean-American Preschoolers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine family factors related to BMI z-scores and overweight/obesity among Korean-American (KA) preschoolers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 104 KA preschoolers and their mothers in the Chicago metropolitan area. KA mothers completed questionnaires and their preschool-age children's weights and heights were measured. Hierarchical multiple linear regression and multiple logistic regression were performed. Results: Twenty-two percent of preschoolers were overweight or obese (BMI ≥. 85th percentile). Family factors explained 30% of the variance in the children's BMI z-scores, with parenting feeding style and family functioning contributing most. In logistic regression, children were more likely to be overweight/obese if: a family had more children, the mother perceived her child as overweight/obese, and the family had regular child routines. Conclusion: Health care providers should consider the family as one unit of care and use that unit to implement culturally appropriate childhood overweight/obesity prevention for Korean-American preschool-aged children. Parental feeding style and parents' attitudes about child weight should be considered when advising Korean-Americans about reducing children's overweight/obesity. © 2015 Elsevier Inc.