Understanding Barriers toward Interventions for Childhood Obesity in Minority Communities: A Rapid Review

Background It is well documented that racial/ethnic minorities have higher attrition rates from pediatric weight manage programs than their white counterparts. This review aimed to identify barriers facing minority families when seeking to complete weight management programs for their children to develop strategies to keep these families engaged. Maintaining engagement through program completion could improve health outcomes and overall quality of life for minority children. Methods Eligible studies were identified through searching PubMed, PsychINFO and CENTRAL databases. Articles had to focus on reasons for attrition from pediatric weight management among minority groups to be included. We extracted data on attrition from each study and narratively summarized the results. Results From the 302 articles screened, five met the inclusion criteria. Four of the five studies predicted attrition factors from attendance or past survey data. Only one study surveyed parents to identify potential barriers. Among these studies, most sociodemographic factors analyzed had no significant effect on early dropout. Program structure, logistical barriers, and parental negative self and child body image were all identified as predictors of attrition. Conclusion More studies need to directly investigate why minority families discontinue weight management treatments early. Directly interviewing or surveying parents to ascertain their concerns can lead to the development of programs that retain and better meet the needs of these groups.