The journal Pediatrics has published a new study conducted by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center physician-researchers which underlines the lack of proper communication among pediatricians and Latino parents after they found that one in five parents of overweight Latino children are not told directly that their child is overweight and often there is no discussion of weight among the parents and the doctors when a language barrier exists.
In recent years, obesity has become a prevalent health concern for children of all races in the U.S. However, Latino children - who comprise the largest minority group of children in the country - are among the most overweight and at risk for developing obesity-related health conditions, such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. Efforts to address these trends are compounded by the fact that approximately 1-in-10 Americans has limited English proficiency.
Advertisement"During primary care visits with overweight children in which there is a language barrier, it is incredibly important to provide a trained medical interpreter or bilingual provider, and use a growth chart to communicate that the child is overweight," said Dr. Christy Turer, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern and first author of the study.
In the study, physician-researchers observed the primary-care visits of 26 Latino children ages 6 to 12 years old. Of the participating children, 81 percent were considered obese (body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile), and 19 percent were considered overweight (body mass index greater than or equal to the 85th percentile).
The study's main findings include:
- Language barriers impact communication that a child is overweight.
- Many overweight Latino children and their parents are not directly told that the child is overweight.
- Few overweight Latino children and their parents receive weight-management plans, culturally relevant dietary advice, or follow-up visits to address weight.
"Special attention should be paid to directly telling Latino families that the child is overweight using family-preferred terms," said Dr. Turer. "For example, pediatricians should use phrases such as 'too much weight for his/her health' or 'demasiado peso para su salud,' and avoid terms such as 'fat,' 'heavy,' or 'obese.' "
Next steps include identifying communication strategies for pediatricians and clinical practices that promote successful weight management among overweight children.