Maternal Perceptions of Self-Weight and Child Weight May Influence Milk Choice of Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Table 1
Demographic characteristics of mother and child.
Mother
Age in years (avg ± SD)
30.6 ± 5.5
Years resided in the US (avg ± SD)
15.1 ± 6.8
Birthplace
(%)
Born in the US
102
19.3
Foreign born
427
80.7
English language proficiency
Very well or well
170
32.1
Not well
157
29.7
Not at all
202
38.2
Education level
No formal schooling
4
0.8
8th grade or less
148
28
9–12th grade
187
35.3
High school graduate
115
21.8
Some college or graduate
75
14.2
Ethnicity
Mexican
499
94.3
Salvadoran
16
3
Guatemalan
5
1
Puerto Rican
2
0.4
Other Hispanics
7
1.3
Weight status
Underweight
1
0.2
Normal weight
106
20
Overweight
157
29.7
Obese
265
50.1
Child
Age in years (avg ± SD)
3.9 ± 6.7
Birthplace
(%)
Born in US
489
92.4
Foreign born
40
7.6
Gender
Female
264
50
Male
265
50
Ethnicity
Mexican
498
94.2
Salvadoran
15
2.8
Guatemalan
5
1
Puerto Rican
1
0.2
Other Hispanics
10
1.8
Weight status
Normal weight
278
52.6
Obese
251
47.4
Mother’s weight status based on CDC standards using BMI. Child’s weight status based on CDC age- and gender-specific BMI percentiles.
