Parent and African American Daughter Obesity Prevention Interventions: An Integrative Review

Background. In the U.S., overweight/obesity among African American (AA) girls has become epidemic. Since parental factors may be associated with improved weight status, it is important to understand the empirical evidence for including parents in obesity prevention interventions with AA girls. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify effectiveness and characteristics of obesity prevention interventions for AA girls (6–17 years) and their parent. Methods. Included interventions addressed physical activity (PA), dietary/eating behaviors, and body composition. Results. Of 708 studies published through March 2014, eight met inclusion criteria. Though effects were in the intended direction for most, statistically significant effects were found only for dietary intake and eating behavior. Discussion. Interventions were characterized by exclusion of girls ages 13–17, failure to link parent involvement to child outcomes, the absence of family systems theory, and modest effects. Further research is needed to ascertain the effectiveness of daughter/parent obesity prevention interventions.