*This study was based on a study of over 14,000 children of families enrolled in Nurse-Family Partnership. Nurse-Family Partnership nurses collect data at each home visit to assess the child’s health and development. The weight and length of each child was recorded to assess if the child was obese.
download pdf
Study Shows Nurse-Family Partnership
Helps to Prevent Childhood Obesity
The opportunity to influence a child’s health and development begins even before the child is born, during pregnancy. The expectant mother’s health behaviors will influence her child’s health and development and this critical period will continue during the first two years of the child’s life.
These early health behaviors can have enduring effects on the child’s likelihood of being obese throughout his or her life course. The increasing rate of obesity among Americans has been shown to diminish quality of life, productivity and
lifespan, while also posing a significant economic burden with the costs of health care. Children are more likely to be obese
if they are born into low-income families. Nurse-Family Partnership provides a unique opportunity to promote behaviors that are crucial to reducing later obesity in children.
This intervention starts with Nurse-Family Partnership nurses reaching low-income women pregnant with their first baby. Each woman is paired with her very own personal nurse to guide her though her pregnancy and help her have a healthy baby. The nurse provides the expectant mom with information to help her make healthier choices on nutrition and prepare for the baby’s arrival. The nurse is also there to monitor her weight gain and assess her health to promote healthier outcomes for both her and her baby. After the baby’s arrival, the nurse continues to support the new mom to improve her child’s health and development throughout the first two years of the child’s life. Download a PDF of this document.
NEW RESEARCH
This fall, a study is scheduled to be published by The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing showing that children participating in Nurse-Family Partnership were less likely to be obese if their mothers showed
the following health behaviors:
Mothers’ Health Behaviors Influence their Children’s Risks of Being Obese
4