A pioneering research initiative led by the University of California, Riverside, has successfully adapted a childhood obesity prevention program to better serve low-income Latina families in Inland Southern California. This culturally tailored intervention emphasizes infant feeding strategies that align with the unique traditions, values, and lived experiences of Latina mothers and their wider caregiving networks. By tailoring the program to be linguistically and culturally relevant, researchers have opened the door to more effective public health interventions, particularly among immigrant communities that have historically been underserved in pediatric obesity prevention efforts.
The foundation of this research is an intervention originally developed in Australia named Healthy Beginnings, targeting infant feeding practices among low-income populations. Recognizing that broad, one-size-fits-all approaches often fail to address specific community needs, the UCR-led team, headed by medical anthropologist Ann Cheney, embarked on a comprehensive adaptation process. This involved extensive qualitative research including in-depth interviews and surveys conducted from early 2021 through the end of 2022 with Latina mothers of infants aged four to six months, as well as their trusted non-maternal caregivers.
Integral to this adaptation was the incorporation of key cultural meanings surrounding infant feeding practices, deeply rooted in familial and community traditions. The researchers found that Latina mothers often rely heavily on extended family members, particularly grandmothers and other senior women, for guidance and support in childrearing. These caregiving figures influence feeding decisions and behaviors, shaping infant nutritional outcomes. Hence, the adapted intervention deliberately included these non-maternal caregivers in its design and delivery to ensure the content resonated authentically within the community.
From a methodological perspective, the study employed qualitative interviews combined with surveys to capture rich, contextual data about caregiving practices and cultural values. Importantly, this allowed the team to reconfigure the intervention in ways that addressed maternal mental health concerns related to feeding, while also adapting session formats. For example, the adapted program offered more frequent, but shorter, sessions to better align with caregivers’ schedules and utilized community health workers fluent in Spanish and culturally competent in Latinx traditions to facilitate engagement and trust.
The intervention’s delivery model reflects an ecological approach to health promotion, recognizing that childhood nutrition outcomes are influenced by complex social and emotional dynamics within families and communities. This holistic framework moves beyond conventional nutrition education by acknowledging the intricate social networks and emotional landscapes that inform feeding behaviors. By embedding these nuances, the program fosters deeper engagement and sustainable behavior changes, critical components for long-term obesity prevention.
"Latina mothers and other senior women like grandmothers are central to the health and well-being of their families," said Ann Cheney, associate professor of social medicine, population, and public health in the UCR School of Medicine. She emphasized the significance of crafting interventions that dovetail with cultural realities rather than imposing external norms. “Our study demonstrates that culturally sensitive approaches are vital for building trust and facilitating meaningful, lasting health improvements,” Cheney added.
A standout finding from the study was the influential role non-maternal caregivers play in shaping infant feeding practices. Often overlooked in traditional intervention models, these caregivers participate actively in feeding routines and decision-making. Their inclusion in the program design process not only enriched the cultural appropriateness of the intervention but also enhanced its acceptability and feasibility within the community context. This multidimensional inclusion creates an intervention ecosystem supported by both primary caregivers and key familial influencers.
The research also underlines the imperative of integrating maternal mental health considerations within infant nutrition programs. Anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms among mothers can adversely impact feeding behaviors. Accordingly, the adapted intervention incorporated psychosocial support components, delivered in a culturally congruent manner, to address these underlying barriers. This innovative blending of nutritional education and mental health awareness positions the program at the forefront of comprehensive early childhood health strategies.
By utilizing community health workers who share linguistic and cultural backgrounds with participants, the program further mitigates barriers related to trust, accessibility, and comprehension. These facilitators serve as bridges between the scientific framework of nutrition education and the lived realities experienced by Latinx families. Their role illustrates how workforce diversification and cultural competency are essential in executing effective public health interventions, particularly in marginalized populations.
The success of this project highlights a broader paradigm shift in public health research: the growing recognition that interventions must be ecologically valid and community-informed to have enduring impact. This model encourages active participation of historically marginalized populations not merely as study subjects but as co-creators of health solutions. Such participatory approaches nurture equity, relevance, and sustainability, ultimately advancing health outcomes at both individual and community levels.
Looking ahead, the adapted Healthy Beginnings program is viewed as a scalable blueprint capable of informing obesity prevention efforts in diverse U.S. communities facing similar socioeconomic and cultural challenges. Its framework demonstrates how evidence-based interventions can be meaningfully transformed through culturally grounded adaptation, ensuring that the benefits of scientific advancements are equitably accessible.
The research team collaborating with UCR included scientists from Brown University, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of California, Irvine. Supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities under award number U54MD013368, the study’s findings are formally presented in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. The publication emphasizes the intersection of culture, caregiving dynamics, and nutrition science as critical drivers of pediatric health promotion success.
In conclusion, this innovative initiative exemplifies how the fusion of anthropological insight, community engagement, and rigorous research methodology can yield transformative advancements in public health. By centering cultural values, family structures, and mental health within infant nutrition interventions, researchers offer a compelling roadmap to curbing childhood obesity and fostering healthier futures among Latinx and other underserved populations.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Adapting an Evidence-Based Infant Feeding and Nutrition Program to Promote Healthy Growth and Development in Latinx Families of Low Income
News Publication Date: 7-May-2025
Web References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1499404625000478
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2025.02.007
References:
Cheney, A., et al. “Adapting an evidence-based infant nutrition program to promote healthy growth and development in Latinx families of low income.” Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2025.
Image Credits: Stan Lim, UC Riverside
Keywords: childhood obesity prevention, infant feeding, low-income Latina families, cultural adaptation, public health intervention, community health workers, maternal mental health, Latinx nutrition, Early childhood development, social determinants of health
