HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2005.080812v1 97/2/298    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kimbro, R. T. Articles by McLanahan, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kimbro, R. T. Articles by McLanahan, S. Related Collections Obesity, Overweight, Underweight Nutrition/Food Other Child and Adolescent Health Other Race/Ethnicity

Rachel Tolbert Kimbro, PhD, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, PhD and Sara McLanahan, PhD

Rachel Tolbert Kimbro is with the Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Jeanne Brooks-Gunn is with Teachers College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City. Sara McLanahan is with the Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Rachel Tolbert Kimbro, PhD, Department of Population Health Sciences, 707 WARF Bldg, 610 N Walnut St, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726 (e-mail: kimbro{at}wisc.edu).

Objectives. We estimated racial/ethnic differences in overweight and obesity in a national sample of 3-year-olds from urban, low-income families and assessed possible determinants of differences.

Methods. Survey, in-home observation, and interview data were collected at birth, 1 year, and 3 years. We used logistic regression analyses and adjusted for a range of covariates in examining overweight and obesity differentials according to race/ethnicity.

Results. Thirty-five percent of the study children were overweight or obese. Hispanic children were twice as likely as either Black or White children to be overweight or obese. Although we controlled for a wide variety of characteristics, we were unable to explain either White–Hispanic or Black–Hispanic differences in overweight and obesity. However, birthweight, taking a bottle to bed, and mother’s weight status were important predictors of children’s overweight or obesity at age 3 years.

Conclusions. Children’s problems with overweight and obesity begin as early as age 3, and Hispanic children and those with obese mothers are especially at risk.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. M. Harris, K. M. Perreira, and D. Lee Obesity in the Transition to Adulthood: Predictions Across Race/Ethnicity, Immigrant Generation, and Sex Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, November 1, 2009; 163(11): 1022 - 1028. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Mesman, T J Roseboom, G J Bonsel, R J Gemke, M F van der Wal, and T G M Vrijkotte Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index explains infant's weight and BMI at 14 months: results from a multi-ethnic birth cohort study Arch. Dis. Child., August 1, 2009; 94(8): 587 - 595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Groner, T. Skybo, L. Murray-Johnson, P. Schwirian, I. Eneli, A. Sternstein, E. Klein, and G. French Anticipatory Guidance for Prevention of Childhood Obesity: Design of the MOMS Project Clinical Pediatrics, June 1, 2009; 48(5): 483 - 492. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Gundersen, S. Garasky, and B. J. Lohman Food Insecurity Is Not Associated with Childhood Obesity as Assessed Using Multiple Measures of Obesity J. Nutr., June 1, 2009; 139(6): 1173 - 1178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S S Hawkins, T J Cole, C Law, and and the Millennium Cohort Study Child Health Group An ecological systems approach to examining risk factors for early childhood overweight: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study J Epidemiol Community Health, February 1, 2009; 63(2): 147 - 155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Suzanne Goodell, M. B. Pierce, C. M. Bravo, and A. M. Ferris Parental Perceptions of Overweight During Early Childhood Qual Health Res, November 1, 2008; 18(11): 1548 - 1555. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. J. Maher, G. Li, L. Carter, and D. B. Johnson Preschool Child Care Participation and Obesity at the Start of Kindergarten Pediatrics, August 1, 2008; 122(2): 322 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. W. Ponder and M. A. Anderson Childhood Obesity: Practical Considerations for Prevention and Management Diabetes Spectr, July 1, 2007; 20(3): 148 - 153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]