The biopsychosocial factors associated with overweight and obesity among Latino children and youth

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PowerPlay MD-OC, a clinically based, culturally and linguistically tailored pediatric weight management program in Orange County, California, in reducing BMI and waist circumference in the Latino/Hispanic population, the second highest ethnic group at risk for obesity in the U.S. Additionally, the study explored whether changes in BMI and waist circumference were associated with baseline levels of psychosocial functioning, depression, and self-esteem. The study was conducted on a longitudinal sample of 374 Latino/Hispanic children and youth who participated in PowerPlay MD-OC and had complete data on both anthropometric and psychosocial measures. Results revealed that PowerPlay MD-OC participants had significant decreases in BMI (p<0.001) and waist circumference (p<0.001) from baseline to eight weeks measured at eight different time points, baseline to six months, and baseline to one-year follow-up, each measured at two different time points. Decreases in BMI did not vary depending on baseline measures of psychosocial functioning, depression and self-esteem; however, decreases in waist circumference showed significant interactions with psychosocial functioning from baseline to eight weeks (p<0.04) and depression from baseline to one-year follow-up (p<0.01). This study supports the effectiveness of PowerPlay MD-OC in reducing BMI and waist circumference. Baseline levels of psychosocial characteristics of participants may have limited effects on BMI and waist circumference decreases.