NCJ Number
246532
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 37 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2013 Pages: 832-840
Date Published
October 2013
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The aims of this study of predominately racial/ethnic minority children in foster care N = 360, birth to 19 years old in Los Angeles, CA were to examine the 1. prevalence of obesity >_95 percentile and overweight/obese >_85 percentile upon entrance to foster care T1 and after 1 year in foster care T2; 2. comparison of high weight categories to national statistics; 3. relationship of changes in weight status to age, reason for entry into foster care, and placement.
Abstract
The aims of this study of predominately racial/ethnic minority children in foster care N = 360, birth to 19 years old in Los Angeles, CA were to examine the 1. prevalence of obesity >_95 percentile and overweight/obese >_85 percentile upon entrance to foster care T1 and after 1 year in foster care T2; 2. comparison of high weight categories to national statistics; 3. relationship of changes in weight status to age, reason for entry into foster care, and placement. Chi-square test and McNemar test comparing paired proportions were used to determine whether there were significant changes in the proportion of high weight categories between T1 and T2. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate the association between age, placement, and reason for foster care with the change in weight category. Changes in weight were categorized as 1. decreased in weight, 2. remained at overweight or obese, 3. increased in weight, or 4. remained normal. The proportion of obese and obese/overweight children between ages 2 and 5 were significantly lower at T2 than T1. There were no significant changes in the prevalence of obesity for the total population at T2. Children age 6 or older had a higher prevalence of obesity and overweight/obesity compared to national statistics. Of children at all ages, 64.7% of children of all ages entered foster care with a normal weight and stayed in the normal range during their first year in foster care, 12.2% decreased their weight, 15.4% remained overweight or obese, and 7.7% increased their weight. Age and parental substance use was related to change in weight category from T1 to T2. Children did not become more overweight or obese in foster care; however 28% of the children were obese or overweight upon entry into foster care. Children who are 6 years or older and obese upon entering foster care should be targeted for weight reduction. The pediatric community and child welfare system need to work together by including weight percentiles in the foster care file and training/monitoring child welfare caregivers in weight reduction interventions.