Do Interventions Targeting Women Impact Children's Health Behaviors?

Abstract

Objectives: Women play an important role in promoting healthy eating and physical activity within their households, influencing the current and life-long health behaviors of children. The purpose of this study is to describe changes in fruit/vegetable consumption and physical activity among children living with racially and ethnically diverse women participating in a lifestyle-change intervention.

Methods: The study involves secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of a wellness-coaching intervention led by Community Health Workers, called Community Wellness Coaches in this study. Study participants came from five diverse racial/ethnic communities. Participants received monthly vs. quarterly wellness coaching. Data on changes in the health behaviors of children at four months after enrollment were collected through interviews. Children's behavior changes were compared by study arm, demographics, and women's health behaviors.

Results: Overall, 71.9% of women reported increases in the fruit/vegetable intake of children living in their household and 59.4% reported increases in children's physical activity. There were no differences in children's fruit/vegetable intake or physical activity by study arm (p=0.88). Women who reported that their own fruit/vegetable intake increased were more likely to report an increase in children's consumption (aOR=2.55, 95%CI 1.05 - 6.21).

Conclusion and implications: Among women of color participating in a health-behavior change intervention, women's behavior changes were associated with improvements in child health behaviors. Interventions focused on improving women's health behaviors may also impact the behaviors of children and other household members. Emphasizing the role of women on the health of children in such interventions may magnify this impact.