From Clinic to Community: Adapting Evidence-Based Weight Management for Overweight Latinx Children to Better Address Social Determinants

Abstract

Background

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends referral of all obese children to intensive weight management programs. When available, programs are limited to clinical settings and do not address social determinants of health barriers to healthy weight among Latinx immigrant families. Active and Healthy Families, a Spanish-language, culturally tailored group visit intervention has demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing child body mass index but does not address barriers to frequent engagement with the health care system nor social determinants other than immigration. Adapting the intervention for community-based delivery, and to address additional social determinants, may facilitate participation and increase acceptability and engagement among Latinx immigrant families.

Purpose

To engage a stakeholder network in planning adaptations of an evidence-based weight management intervention for community-based implementation.

Method

Guided by the intervention mapping-adapt process, we solicited feedback from a stakeholder network from August 2018 to March 2020. The stakeholder network assessed fit, planned adaptations and identified essential intervention components using photovoice, a Participatory Action Research method, and meetings incorporating user-centered design approaches.

Results

The stakeholder network membership included Latinx immigrant families, community leaders, health care delivery experts, and researchers. Planned adaptations included curriculum changes to discuss social determinants barriers to behavior change and goal setting to mitigate them.

Conclusions

We successfully engaged a stakeholder network and, using a systematic process, identified adaptations of an evidence-based weight management intervention to allow for community-based implementation. Sustainably addressing obesity disparities for Latinx children also requires addressing structural factors to reduce social determinants of health barriers at the population level.