Kick Start Your Day

A Pilot Investigation of a Family Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Targeting Low-Income Latino Families

Abstract

Obesity rates among Hispanic/Latino youth are 5-10% higher than Caucasian youth. Kick Start Your Day was a six-week intervention that was pilot tested in a low-income, predominantly Latino community. The intervention consisted of nutrition education for parents, fun physical activities for children, low glycemic breakfasts and snacks for parents and children, and bilingual resources (e.g., recipe books) to take home. Fifty-six Latino parents (n= 25 intervention, n= 31 control) and their children ages 6-12 participated, and completed both baseline and end-of-program self-report questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to examine intervention effects on increases in nutrition knowledge, while linear regression models were used to examine intervention effects on changes in parents’ and children’s physical activity. All models adjusted for outcome scores at baseline. Results indicated that intervention group parents were more likely to learn that eating breakfast can help their child pay attention and can prevent moodiness, and that nutrition labels contain information about sodium content. Intervention group parents also had greater increases in vigorous physical activity. This study provided preliminary evidence that a low-cost, family-centered intervention can lead to increases in knowledge and behavior change.