Jb. Sherman et al., FAMILY FACTORS RELATED TO OBESITY IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN AND ANGLO PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN, Family & community health, 18(2), 1995, pp. 28-36
The relationship between family factors and obesity in Mexican-America
n and Angle preschool children was investigated. The sample consisted
of 377 mothers and their children; 189 were Mexican Americans and 188
were Angles. Results indicated that Mexican-American children were hea
vier and were more likely to live in single parent families than Angle
children. Mothers of Mexican-American children were more overweight,
were less educated, and had lower family income than the mothers of An
gle children. The results revealed that the family factors of socioeco
nomic status, marital status, and maternal body mass index are associa
ted with obesity in children. Knowledge of these factors may help to i
dentify children at risk for this serious public health problem.