Latinx Family Wellness

Childhood is an opportune time to intervene in obesity because behaviors that are developed during this time can have long-lasting effects and disrupt trajectories of obesity. This proposal aims to test the feasibility (i.e., participant acceptance, adherence, and retention) of a family-oriented intervention "AyUDA" (Aprender y Utilizar Decisiones Apreciables-Learning and Utilizing Significant Choices). The culturally tailored, two-arm adapted intervention to engage Latinx parents in healthy feeding and lifestyle practices for their children 2-5 years old, thereby reducing early childhood overweight and obesity. The investigators will use concepts of the Social-Ecological Framework for Obesity among Latinx, and the Social Learning Theory that emphasizes the importance of observing, modeling, and imitating behaviors. This approach includes a community engagement partnership with one clinic that serves a great number of Latinx families with 2-5 aged children in Central Kentucky (General Pediatric Clinic-Clinica Amiga). The investigators propose a two-arm randomized clinical trial (RCT) randomly assigning participants to either a telehealth deep cultural level group or a culturally traditional educational group in a sample of 40 Latinx families who will be followed for six months after the intervention. Moreover, investigators will explore short-term changes of the intervention on dietary behavior changes and anthropometric measurements among family members. The feasibility study will inform effect sizes that will be used to estimate statistical power for a future R01 on Community Level Interventions to Improve Minority Health and Reduce Health Disparities, National Institute of Health (NIH).

Inclusion Criteria:Latinx family of Mexican or Central American descentAt least one parent 18 years or older; with a child between 2-5 years old and classified as overweight or obeseIntention to remain in Central Kentucky for at least a year after recruitmentAccess to the internet.Exclusion Criteria:n/a