Cultural Beliefs About Healthy and Unhealthy Weight in Children 2 to 11 Years of Age Among Parents of Mexican Heritage

Introduction: Despite multisectoral preventive interventions, the obesity prevalence among children of Mexican heritage remains the highest of all ethnic groups in the US. Methodology: Guided by Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory, this study explored the culture care beliefs and practices of Mexican heritage parents about healthy and unhealthy weight in children 2-11 years of age using the ethnonursing research method. Eight key and 17 general informants were interviewed, and the four phases of ethnonursing data analysis guided analysis. Results: Twenty-six categories were identified which led to seven culture care patterns revealing four themes. Informants shared the cultural meaning of health as happiness, natural remedies and fresh food, and the desire of nursing concrete support on specific areas, such tracking of age-appropriate growth and culturally-appropriate healthy recipes. Discussion: Nurses should include Mexican heritage families’ cultural values and practices such as natural and collective care to provide more culturally congruent care