Obesity rates among America’s children have increased at an alarming rate. Latinx kids living in low-income households are particularly hard hit, putting them at dangerous risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In East Baltimore, a family-based Spanish-language weight management program is making a difference, notes Sarah Polk, an associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center who works closely with Centro SOL: the Johns Hopkins Center for Salud/Health and Opportunity for Latinos.

Through the Active and Healthy Families program, caregivers and children (ages 5–12) with obesity meet biweekly at Our Lady of Pompei Church over 16 weeks to learn about healthy eating habits (such as how to read nutrition labels to purchase the healthiest breakfast cereal), talk candidly about daily stressors associated with immigration, and get moving with some easy exercises that can be done with no equipment and very little space.

“Our community health worker, Yessica Marroquin, is really the most critical piece — the linchpin. Families find her to be their strongest connection to the program,” says Polk, the principal investigator for the program. “Their phone conversations with Yessy in between sessions are really helpful for motivation and getting over bumps in the road,” says Polk, who notes that funding for Marroquin’s position has come through the Rite Aid Foundation.

“The Rite Aid Foundation funding has been essential in allowing us to sustain this important program. We are now on our 15th cohort of participating families,” Polk says.

Marroquin, who conducts sessions in Spanish, provides opportunities for adults to meet and talk together while their children take part in fun, instructive activities. She’s found during these sessions and in her biweekly follow-up phone calls that there are many hurdles to implementing healthy habits.

“The most frequent thing parents ask for is help with access to basic resources, such as electricity or rent. In addition, they ask me about how to renew health insurance for their children or how to apply for food stamps (SNAP),” says Marroquin. Other common challenges: limited space in their homes (many share with family or nonfamily members), limited time (parents often must work during after school and evening hours), the high price of healthy foods and unsafe neighborhoods, which limits opportunities for kids to play safely outside.

“In general, during my weekly follow-up calls, parents say that some bad habits change when they started sharing more as a family and started doing activities together. Those are things we learn in the program together — to share,” notes Marroquin. She adds, “It's not a hierarchical relationship. They feel that we are working as a team, and they have the confidence to share what is going on with their children.”

Follow-up evaluations have found the Active and Healthy Families program has a positive impact on children with obesity, Polk says. “Their weight gain slows, relative to kids who don’t participate.” And importantly, the insights gained benefit other family members.

“Parents in the program talk a lot about how it is motivating them to improve their own personal health habits. To positively influence an adult who is at risk of type 2 diabetes — that is very meaningful,” says Polk. Younger siblings also absorb healthier habits. “If we can catch a 5-year-old before they start gaining weight, then they may avoid ending up in the same situation as their brother or sister.”

In addition to funding Marroquin’s position, the Rite Aid Foundation’s $200,000 gift supports other crucial elements of the program, including providing transportation to meetings for families who need it and supplies — from jump ropes to measuring cups — to help families integrate healthy new habits into their daily routines.

“We are incredibly grateful for the Rite Aid Foundation’s generosity,” Polk says.

Read more about Johns Hopkins-led efforts in immigrant family health.