O1038: ¿Los bebés gorditos son saludables?: Rethinking Early Childhood Nutrition Counseling in Hispanic Families

Purpose/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the role of cultural sensitivity in pediatric nutritional and weight counseling within Hispanic families. Specifically, we sought to explore parents' perceptions of their child's weight, its impact on long-term health outcomes, the influence of healthcare providers in nutritional counseling, and identify gaps in current practices to address the unique cultural needs of these families.

Design/Methods: A survey was developed and translated into Spanish to assess parents’ perceptions of their child’s weight, the impact of nutrition on health, and experiences with current nutritional counseling. It was distributed during well-child visits for children aged 1 month to 5 years. Of the 101 surveys completed, 79 met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The survey explored views on child weight, the importance of provider input, and preferred sources of nutritional information. Results were used to identify gaps and inform more culturally competent nutritional counseling practices.

Results: A majority of parents reported believing a baby or toddler's weight can affect future health (51%) and that babies or toddlers can be overweight (58%). However, 40% viewed "chubby" babies as healthy. When asked about provider involvement, 85% indicated they would be thankful and ready to address weight concerns if a doctor expressed concern. Challenges in following nutritional advice included language barriers (39%), difficulty accessing healthy foods (14%), mismatched food traditions (8%), and lack of time during visits (6%). Regarding preferred sources of nutritional information, parents favored discussing nutrition with their doctor (64%), followed by written handouts (32%) and online resources (16%). Most parents assessed their child’s weight based on the doctor’s opinion (67%), growth charts (33%), and visual cues (23%).

Conclusion/Discussion: The results of this study highlight the importance of cultural competency in pediatric nutritional and weight counseling for Hispanic families. Parents demonstrated a strong recognition of the link between weight and future health outcomes, though many still viewed "chubby" toddlers as healthy. This suggests a need for further education and communication around healthy weight perceptions, especially in the context of cultural values. While parents generally valued their healthcare provider’s input on nutrition and weight, barriers such as language, misalignment with food traditions, lack of time during visits, and difficulty accessing healthy foods were frequently reported. These challenges underscore the need for more culturally tailored nutritional counseling strategies that respect family traditions while providing effective guidance. Additionally, the preference for provider-led discussions and written resources indicates that healthcare providers should prioritize these avenues for delivering nutrition education. Moving forward, these findings can inform targeted interventions aimed at enhancing culturally competent care, improving patient-provider communication, and promoting better nutritional outcomes for Hispanic children.