Obesity and Caries in Young South Asian Children: A Common Risk Factor Approach

The CHALO ("Child Health Action to Lower Oral Caries and Obesity") -- from an Urdu word meaning "Let's go!"-is a multi-level strategy to reduce pediatric obesity and dental caries risk in South Asian (SA) children. Obesity and caries are the two most prominent health disparities of early childhood. Both caries and obesity: a) disproportionately impact low-income children of color, b) share common risk behaviors, i.e., feeding practices, and c) can most effectively be reduced or prevented prevention in infancy and early childhood. SA immigrant children are at high risk for both. CHALO includes both a randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at reducing risk behavior, and a Knowledge Translation project to raise awareness in SA lay and professional communities regarding child health risks.