Social ecological predictors of dietary intake among Hispanic parents / child caregivers in Aurora, Illinois: Implications for family - based interventions.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS



CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the study1

Background of the Problem15

Problem Statement17

Purpose of the Study18

Nature of the study18

Research Questions19

Hypotheses20

Research variables21

Assumptions21

Scope and Delimitations22

Delimitations22

Significance22

Theoretical Foundation23

Definitions23

Summary25

REFERENCES27

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Globally, obesity has reached pandemic proportions. More than 1 billion adults are overweight, and 300 adults are clinically obese(NIH, 2004). These numbers have more than doubled in the last three decades (World Health Organization [WHO], 2012). In fact, approximately, 65 percent of the world's population resides in countries that are overweight (WHO, 2012). Obesity is a major contributor of chronic diseases and disabilities (WHO, 2012), and it kills more people than starvation or malnutrition (WHO, 2012). Obesity is linked to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, cancer, diabetes and premature death; it is estimated to cause approximately 3 million deaths worldwide every year (CDC, 2011a; WHO, 2012). In addition, adult obesity also is associated with reduced quality of life, social stigmatization, and discrimination (CDC, 2011b). The alarming and preventable pandemic affecting millions each year has limitless boundaries, affecting families from all ages, regions, educational, financial, and cultural backgrounds.

Obesity is not only a global issue but it influences all age groups. In the United States, of adults ages 20-74, 5.7 % are extremely obese, 33.8% are obese, and 34.2% are overweight (CDC, 2010a; Ogden, 2010; NHANES, 2007-2008). Moreover, 73 million adults and 17% (12.5 million) of children and adolescents ages two to 19 are overweight or obese (Centers of Disease Control, 2011; NHANES, 1999-2000). Furthermore, according to Troiano et al, (1998), the number of overweight children has doubled in the past twenty years and one in five children in the United States are overweight. In addition to the children who are overweight, another 15 % of youths are at risk for becoming overweight. In children, ages 2 through 5, 26.2% are overweight and 13.9 % are obese (CDC, 2008a; Ogden, 2009). This dramatic increase in incidence of obesity in U.S. adults is significantly impacting children and youth, leading to a generation at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea and nonalcoholic steatohepaitits and other health problems. The rising rates of obesity have lead to increased morbidity and mortality, and shortened projected longevity for children and adolescents who are expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents or family members from past generations.

According to Story et al. (2008), the increasing rate of obesity among children and families has led to an increase in the societal costs. From 1979 to 1999 the hospital costs among children and adolescents, in associated with childhood obesity has more than threefold from $35 million to $127 million per year. The health effects on the population and the cost to the economy are becoming one of the largest U.S. health expenditures. The rapid increase in obesity prevalence in the United States has puzzled and perplexed many public health professionals and led many to hypothesize that if ...