Familial and environmental factors that contribute to pediatric overweight in African American populations: Implications for prevention and treatment

The rapid rise in the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents is a major health concern in the United States (U.S). African American children are disproportionately at risk for being overweight compared to white children; however, effective approaches to prevent and treat excessive weight gain in this population are limited. While researchers traditionally emphasized individual contributors to the development of pediatric overweight, there is growing recognition about the role of familial and environmental contexts in shaping weight-related behaviors, specifically nutrition and physical activity. The purpose of this article is to describe the ways in which these broader contexts influence the feasibility and effectiveness of approaches to address overweight in African American youth.