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Mothers’ perception on weight status was a determinant of obesity among Michigan migrant seasonal farm worker families (806.10)
Author(s) -
Song SuJin,
Gonzalez Andie,
Shin Da Yeon,
Nieves Violeta,
Song Won
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.806.10
Subject(s) - overweight , obesity , socioeconomic status , medicine , population , environmental health , demographics , gerontology , demography , sociology
Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker (MSFW) families are vulnerable to many nutritional health risks, but little is known on determinants of obesity in this population. We aimed to identify the gap in knowledge about determinants of obesity among Michigan MSFW families. Study participants were recruited from five pre‐selected Telamon’s Michigan Migrant Head Start (MMHS) centers between July and August 2013. A total of 76 families who had at least one child enrolled in the MMHS were interviewed in English or Spanish, using an online survey questionnaire for collection of data on socio‐demographics, food security, perception on weight status (self and children), and nutrition knowledge. Height and weight were measured for each family member with a portable height and weight scale. The MSFW families were low in socioeconomic status (<130% PIR) with high prevalence of food insecurity (58%) and overweight/obesity (76% of mothers and 48% of children). Mothers had inaccurate perception on weight status for self and their children and poor nutrition knowledge. Mothers with inaccurate perception on weight status were more likely to be overweight/obese and have poor nutrition knowledge compared to those with accurate perception. Among overweight/obese children, the rates of overweight/obese mothers and mothers with inaccurate perception on weight status were higher than those of under/normal weight children. Mothers’ inaccurate perception on weight status might be a determinant of obesity among the MSFW families and it need to be improved by nutrition education to combat obesity. Grant Funding Source : Supported by Telamon Corporation, MSU Extension, Julian Samora Research Institute, CAMP at MSU