Diet, Activity, and Overweight in Preschool Children on WIC
Author Information
Author(s): Jennifer A Nelson, Kathleen Carpenter, Mary Ann Chiasson
Primary Institution: Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc
Hypothesis
What are the food and beverage consumption patterns and activity habits of preschool-age children enrolled in WIC, and how do these relate to overweight?
Conclusion
Efforts to improve nutrition and prevent overweight in children should focus on educating parents about physical activity and nutrition.
Supporting Evidence
- 38% of the children were overweight or at risk of overweight.
- Hispanic and white children were twice as likely as black children to be overweight.
- Children who drank more than one serving of nonjuice fruit drink per day had increased odds of being overweight.
- Children spent more than twice as much time on screens as they did being physically active.
Takeaway
Many young children are overweight because they eat unhealthy foods and watch too much TV instead of playing outside.
Methodology
Parents of children aged 2 to 4 years in WIC completed a questionnaire about their children's diet and activity, and children's height and weight were measured.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include social desirability and recall bias in self-reported data.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, relies on self-reported data, and may not capture all aspects of diet and activity.
Participant Demographics
The sample included more boys than girls, primarily Hispanic and black children, with a significant portion diagnosed with asthma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.046
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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