Can the Internet Be Used to Reach Parents for Family-Based Childhood Obesity Interventions?

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to identify socioeconomic correlates of computer/Internet use among parents of overweight preschool-aged children. Methods. A total of 470 baseline participants in a trial to prevent obesity in children 2 to 6.9 years old with body mass index ≥95th percentile or 85th to 95th percentile with one overweight parent were studied. Interviews with parents used Health Information National Trends Survey questions. Results/conclusions. Overall, 94% of the participants had home computers and 93% reported Internet usage. In adjusted models, parents with ≤college degree (odds ratio = 4.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-18.3) or with household income ≤$50 000 (odds ratio = 7.6; 95% confidence interval = 2.2-26.8) had decreased likelihood of computer ownership. Of parents who reported going online, 63% used Internet to look for health/medical information for themselves and 42% for their children. Parents with ≤a college degree or with body mass index <25 kg/m² were less likely to use Internet. Results support using the Internet for early childhood obesity prevention with enhanced outreach efforts for low socioeconomic status families.