Shanna Doucette Knierim1, Sophia Newcomer2, Alyssa Castillo3, Alanna Kulchak Rahm4, Silvia Raghunath5, Christina Clarke2, Leslie Wright2, Matthew Haemer6, Simon J Hambidge7. 1. Ambulatory Care Services, Denver Health, Denver, Colo; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo. Electronic address: shanna.knierim@dhha.org. 2. Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, Colo. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass. 4. Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, Colo; Genomic Medicine Institute Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa. 5. Ambulatory Care Services, Denver Health, Denver, Colo. 6. Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo. 7. Ambulatory Care Services, Denver Health, Denver, Colo; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo; Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, Colo.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about Latino parents' perceptions of weight-related language in English or Spanish, particularly for counseling obese youth. We sought to identify English and Spanish weight counseling terms perceived by Latino parents across demographic groups as desirable for providers to use, motivating, and inoffensive. METHODS: Latino parents of children treated at urban safety-net clinics completed surveys in English or Spanish. Parents rated the desirable, motivating, or offensive properties of terms for excess weight using a 5-point scale. We compared parental ratings of terms and investigated the association of parent and child characteristics with parent perceptions of terms. RESULTS: A total of 525 surveys met inclusion criteria (255 English, 270 Spanish). English survey respondents rated "unhealthy weight" and "too much weight for his/her health" the most motivating and among the most desirable and least offensive terms. Spanish survey respondents found "demasiado peso para su salud" highly desirable, highly motivating, and inoffensive, and respondents valued its connection to the child's health. Commonly used clinical terms "overweight"/"sobrepeso" and "high BMI [body mass index]"/"índice de masa corporal alta" were not as desirable or as motivating. "Chubby," "fat," "gordo," and "muy gordo" were the least motivating and most offensive terms. Parents' ratings of commonly used clinical terms varied widely across demographic groups, but more desirable terms had less variability. CONCLUSIONS: "Unhealthy weight," "too much weight for his/her health," and its Spanish equivalent, "demasiado peso para su salud," were the most desirable and motivating, and the least offensive terms. Latino parents' positive perceptions of these terms occurred across parent and child characteristics, supporting their use in weight counseling.
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about Latino parents' perceptions of weight-related language in English or Spanish, particularly for counseling obese youth. We sought to identify English and Spanish weight counseling terms perceived by Latino parents across demographic groups as desirable for providers to use, motivating, and inoffensive. METHODS: Latino parents of children treated at urban safety-net clinics completed surveys in English or Spanish. Parents rated the desirable, motivating, or offensive properties of terms for excess weight using a 5-point scale. We compared parental ratings of terms and investigated the association of parent and child characteristics with parent perceptions of terms. RESULTS: A total of 525 surveys met inclusion criteria (255 English, 270 Spanish). English survey respondents rated "unhealthy weight" and "too much weight for his/her health" the most motivating and among the most desirable and least offensive terms. Spanish survey respondents found "demasiado peso para su salud" highly desirable, highly motivating, and inoffensive, and respondents valued its connection to the child's health. Commonly used clinical terms "overweight"/"sobrepeso" and "high BMI [body mass index]"/"índice de masa corporal alta" were not as desirable or as motivating. "Chubby," "fat," "gordo," and "muy gordo" were the least motivating and most offensive terms. Parents' ratings of commonly used clinical terms varied widely across demographic groups, but more desirable terms had less variability. CONCLUSIONS: "Unhealthy weight," "too much weight for his/her health," and its Spanish equivalent, "demasiado peso para su salud," were the most desirable and motivating, and the least offensive terms. Latino parents' positive perceptions of these terms occurred across parent and child characteristics, supporting their use in weight counseling.
Authors: Lorraine S Wallace; Edwin S Rogers; Steven E Roskos; David B Holiday; Barry D Weiss Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2006-08 Impact factor: 5.128