Elsie M Taveras
Biographic Data
| ID | 5128902 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Elsie M Taveras |
| GIVEN NAMES | Elsie M |
| FAMILY NAME | Taveras |
| SIGNATURE | TAVERAS E M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Harvard University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6158-2807 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 34 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 13 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 34 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Stakeholders’ perception of factors influencing adoption of a pediatric weight management intervention
Background: Childhood obesity is highly prevalent in the United States and disproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income populations; these disparities have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adoption of effective pediatric weight management interventions (PWMIs) that have been evaluated among low-income diverse populations is needed. The Healthy Weight Clinic PWMI, a package co-developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics…
Household food insecurity is associated with obesogenic health behaviours among a low-income cohort of pregnant women in Boston, MA
Objective: To examine associations of household food insecurity with health and obesogenic behaviours among pregnant women enrolled in an obesity prevention programme in the greater Boston area. Design: Cross-sectional evaluation. Data were collected from structured questionnaires that included a validated two-item screener to assess household food insecurity. We used separate multivariable linear and logistic regression models to quantify the as…
Costs to Implement a Pediatric Weight Management Program Across 3 Distinct Contexts
BACKGROUND: The Connect for Health program is an evidence-based program that aligns with national recommendations for pediatric weight management and includes clinical decision support, educational handouts, and community resources. As implementation costs are a major driver of program adoption and maintenance decisions, we assessed the costs to implement the Connect for Health program across 3 health systems that primarily serve low-income commu…
A Health System Framework for Addressing Structural Racism
The legacy of racism and structural inequality has taken a heavy toll on the health care system and the health outcomes of patients and members of community catchment areas. To achieve optimal health outcomes for all, health systems will need to enact structural change that is meaningful, measurable, and rooted in evidence. We describe an antiracism campaign organized into three pillars of focus ( Leadership/Employees/Culture, Patient Care Equity…
Implementation Evaluation of Hugs/Abrazos During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Early life adversity can significantly impact child development and health outcomes throughout the life course. With the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating preexisting and introducing new sources of toxic stress, social programs that foster resilience are more necessary now than ever. The Helping Us Grow Stronger (HUGS/Abrazos) program fills a crucial need for protective buffers during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has escalated toxic stressors affect…
Multi-sector stakeholder's perceptions of determinants of successful implementation of a pediatric weight management intervention
Background: Multi-sector stakeholder engagement is essential in the successful implementation, dissemination, and sustainability of pediatric weight management interventions (PWMI), particularly in low-income settings where sustainability relies on external policies and reimbursement. The objective of this study was to engage stakeholders (1) to inform the creation of the intervention with adaptations needed for a successful PWMI in a primary car…
Prospective Associations Between Fathers’ Engagement in Infant Caregiving and Their Weight-Related Behaviors and Mental Health
Fathers’ engagement in infant caregiving is linked with positive social, emotional, and developmental outcomes in children; however, its relationship with fathers’ own health is largely unknown. This longitudinal study examined associations between fathers’ caregiving engagement with their 6-month-old infants and their physical activity, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, nighttime sleep duration, and depressive symptoms 6 months later w…
Awareness, Utilization, and Preferences of Harm Reduction Interventions among Street-Involved Young Adults in Boston
OBJECTIVES: This study explores knowledge and utilization of, barriers to, and preferences for harm reduction services among street-involved young adults (YA) in Boston, Massachusetts. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey of YA encountered between November and December 2019 by a longstanding outreach program for street-involved YA. We report descriptive statistics on participant-reported substance use, knowledge and utilization of harm reduction …
Mobile Health Services for Covid-19
Mobile health units can improve access to preventive health services, especially for medically underserved populations. However, there is little published experience of mobile health units being used to expand access to COVID-19 vaccination. In concert with local public health departments and community members, we implemented a mobile COVID-19 health unit and deployed it to 12 predominantly low-income and racial/ethnic minority communities in Mas…
Fostering Resilience in Pregnancy and Early Childhood During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Pregnancy and early childhood pose unique sensitivity to stressors such as economic instability, poor mental health, and social inequities all of which have been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. In absence of protective buffers, prolonged exposure to excessive, early adversity can lead to poor health outcomes with significant impact lasting beyond the childhood years. Helping Us Grow Stronger (HUGS/Abrazos) is a community-based program, design…
Development and Psychometric Properties of the Sleep Parenting Scale for Infants
Although infants' sleep behaviors are shaped by their interactions with parents at bedtime, few tools exist to capture parents' sleep parenting practices. This study developed a Sleep Parenting Scale for Infants (SPS-I) and aimed to (1) explore and validate its factorial structure, (2) examine its measurement invariance across mothers and fathers, and (3) investigate its reliability and concurrent and convergent validity. SPS-I was developed via …
Association of sugar-sweetened beverage intake with maternal postpartum weight retention
Objective: During the perinatal period, modifiable behaviours contributing to excess weight gain, including sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, are understudied. We examined the extent to which perinatal SSB intake affects postpartum weight retention (PPWR). Design: We measured SSB intake frequency in the third trimester and 1-month postpartum using the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire. We assessed the association between SSB intake and P…
Breastfeeding and risk of overweight in childhood and beyond
Community Care in Reach
Opioid overdoses killed 47,600 people in the United States in 2017. Despite increasing availability of office-based addiction treatment programs, the prevalence of opioid overdose is historically high and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness. Despite availability of effective treatment, many at greatest risk of death from overdose experience myriad barriers to care. Launched in 2018, the Co…
Antenatal dietary concordance among mothers and fathers and gestational weight gain
Mothers had higher risk for excessive GWG when both partners had unhealthy FF consumption frequency, and when fathers had unhealthy FV consumption frequency. These findings imply that fathers should be involved in educational opportunities regarding dietary intake during pregnancy
Unmet Social Needs and Adherence to Pediatric Weight Management Interventions
Objectives. To examine effects of unmet social needs on adherence to pediatric weight management intervention (PWMI). Methods. We examined individual associations of positive screens for parental stress, parental depression, food insecurity, and housing insecurity with intervention adherence, and associations of 0, 1 or 2, and 3 or 4 unmet social needs with adherence, among children enrolled in a 2017–2019 comparative effectiveness trial for 2 hi…
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Attitudes and Consumption During the First 1000 Days of Life
Objectives. To examine the relationship of parental sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) attitudes with SSB consumption during the first 1000 days of life—gestation to age 2 years. Methods. We studied 394 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)–enrolled families during the first 1000 days of life in northern Manhattan, New York, in 2017. In regression models, we assessed cross-sectional relationships of parental SS…
Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effectiveness of a Multisector Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention
Objectives. To investigate racial/ethnic and language differences in the effectiveness of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) study among children aged 2 to 4 years enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Methods. We performed a multisector quasiexperimental study in 2 MA-CORD intervention communities and 1 comparison community. Using WIC data from 2010 to 201…
Guelph Family Health Study
Longitudinal changes in BMI z -scores among 45 414 2–4-year olds with severe obesity
Among children with severe obesity, BMIz changes may be due to differences in the transformations used to estimate levels of BMIz rather than to changes in body size. The BMIs of these children could be expressed relative to the 95th percentile or as modified z-scores
Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity in the First 1,000 Days
Association of missing paternal demographics on infant birth certificates with perinatal risk factors for childhood obesity
Missing paternal data on the birth certificate is associated with perinatal risk factors for childhood obesity. Efforts to understand and reduce obesity risk factors in early life may need to consider paternal factors
Effects of Proximity to Supermarkets on a Randomized Trial Studying Interventions for Obesity
Objectives. To determine whether proximity to a supermarket modified the effects of an obesity intervention. Methods. We examined 498 children aged 6 to 12 years with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile participating in an obesity trial in Massachusetts in 2011 to 2013. The practice-based interventions included computerized clinician decision support plus family self-guided behavior change or health coaching. Outcomes were 1-y…
Assessing care providers’ perceptions and beliefs about physical activity in infants and toddlers
This study is the first to assess the physical activity perceptions and attitudes of providers caring for infants and toddlers. Though all providers believed toddlers should engage in more physical activity than infants, most providers believed that young children require only a short amount of physical activity each day, below recommended guidelines. How provider perceptions influence children's physical activity behavior requires investigation
The Role of Health Information Sources in Decision-Making Among Hispanic Mothers During Their Children’s First 1000 Days of Life
Effects of Proximity to Supermarkets on a Randomized Trial Studying Interventions for Obesity
Objectives. To determine whether proximity to a supermarket modified the effects of an obesity intervention. Methods. We examined 498 children aged 6 to 12 years with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile participating in an obesity trial in Massachusetts in 2011 to 2013. The practice-based interventions included computerized clinician decision support plus family self-guided behavior change or health coaching. Outcomes were 1-y…
Guelph Family Health Study
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Attitudes and Consumption During the First 1000 Days of Life
Objectives. To examine the relationship of parental sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) attitudes with SSB consumption during the first 1000 days of life—gestation to age 2 years. Methods. We studied 394 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)–enrolled families during the first 1000 days of life in northern Manhattan, New York, in 2017. In regression models, we assessed cross-sectional relationships of parental SS…
The association of urbanicity with infant sleep duration
Unmet Social Needs and Adherence to Pediatric Weight Management Interventions
Objectives. To examine effects of unmet social needs on adherence to pediatric weight management intervention (PWMI). Methods. We examined individual associations of positive screens for parental stress, parental depression, food insecurity, and housing insecurity with intervention adherence, and associations of 0, 1 or 2, and 3 or 4 unmet social needs with adherence, among children enrolled in a 2017–2019 comparative effectiveness trial for 2 hi…
Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effectiveness of a Multisector Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention
Objectives. To investigate racial/ethnic and language differences in the effectiveness of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) study among children aged 2 to 4 years enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Methods. We performed a multisector quasiexperimental study in 2 MA-CORD intervention communities and 1 comparison community. Using WIC data from 2010 to 201…
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Early-Life Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity
OBJECTIVE: By the preschool years, racial/ethnic disparities in obesity prevalence are already present. The objective of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in early-life risk factors for childhood obesity. METHODS: A total of 1343 white, 355 black, and 128 Hispanic mother-child pairs were studied in a prospective study. Mother's reported child's race/ethnicity. The main outcome measures were risk factors from the prenatal period …
First Steps for Mommy and Me
Age of Achievement of Gross Motor Milestones in Infancy and Adiposity at Age 3 Years
Content Analysis of Motivational Counseling Calls Targeting Obesity-Related Behaviors Among Postpartum Women
A Qualitative Study of Gestational Weight Gain Counseling and Tracking
The association of urbanicity with infant sleep duration
Preventing Obesity in Infants and Toddlers in Child Care
Nutritional quality of foods and beverages on child-care centre menus in Mexico
Objective The purpose of the present study was to assess the nutritional quality of foods and beverages listed on menus serving children in government-sponsored child-care centres throughout Mexico. Design For this cross-sectional menu assessment, we compared (i) food groups and portion sizes of foods and beverages on the menus with MyPlate recommendations and (ii) macronutrients, sugar and fibre with Daily Reference Intake standards. Setting Men…
Racial/ethnic and immigrant differences in early childhood diet quality
Objective To assess racial/ethnic differences in the diet in young children and the explanatory role of maternal BMI, immigrant status and perception of child's weight. Design Among white, black and Hispanic 3-year-olds, we used negative binomial and linear regression to examine associations of race/ethnicity with foods and nutrients assessed by a validated FFQ. Setting Project Viva, Boston (MA), USA. Subjects Children aged 3 years ( n 898). Resu…
Assessing care providers’ perceptions and beliefs about physical activity in infants and toddlers
This study is the first to assess the physical activity perceptions and attitudes of providers caring for infants and toddlers. Though all providers believed toddlers should engage in more physical activity than infants, most providers believed that young children require only a short amount of physical activity each day, below recommended guidelines. How provider perceptions influence children's physical activity behavior requires investigation
The Role of Health Information Sources in Decision-Making Among Hispanic Mothers During Their Children’s First 1000 Days of Life
Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity in the First 1,000 Days
Association of missing paternal demographics on infant birth certificates with perinatal risk factors for childhood obesity
Missing paternal data on the birth certificate is associated with perinatal risk factors for childhood obesity. Efforts to understand and reduce obesity risk factors in early life may need to consider paternal factors
Effects of Proximity to Supermarkets on a Randomized Trial Studying Interventions for Obesity
Objectives. To determine whether proximity to a supermarket modified the effects of an obesity intervention. Methods. We examined 498 children aged 6 to 12 years with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile participating in an obesity trial in Massachusetts in 2011 to 2013. The practice-based interventions included computerized clinician decision support plus family self-guided behavior change or health coaching. Outcomes were 1-y…
Longitudinal changes in BMI z -scores among 45 414 2–4-year olds with severe obesity
Among children with severe obesity, BMIz changes may be due to differences in the transformations used to estimate levels of BMIz rather than to changes in body size. The BMIs of these children could be expressed relative to the 95th percentile or as modified z-scores
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Attitudes and Consumption During the First 1000 Days of Life
Objectives. To examine the relationship of parental sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) attitudes with SSB consumption during the first 1000 days of life—gestation to age 2 years. Methods. We studied 394 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)–enrolled families during the first 1000 days of life in northern Manhattan, New York, in 2017. In regression models, we assessed cross-sectional relationships of parental SS…
Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effectiveness of a Multisector Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention
Objectives. To investigate racial/ethnic and language differences in the effectiveness of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) study among children aged 2 to 4 years enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Methods. We performed a multisector quasiexperimental study in 2 MA-CORD intervention communities and 1 comparison community. Using WIC data from 2010 to 201…
Guelph Family Health Study
Community Care in Reach
Opioid overdoses killed 47,600 people in the United States in 2017. Despite increasing availability of office-based addiction treatment programs, the prevalence of opioid overdose is historically high and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness. Despite availability of effective treatment, many at greatest risk of death from overdose experience myriad barriers to care. Launched in 2018, the Co…
Antenatal dietary concordance among mothers and fathers and gestational weight gain
Mothers had higher risk for excessive GWG when both partners had unhealthy FF consumption frequency, and when fathers had unhealthy FV consumption frequency. These findings imply that fathers should be involved in educational opportunities regarding dietary intake during pregnancy
Unmet Social Needs and Adherence to Pediatric Weight Management Interventions
Objectives. To examine effects of unmet social needs on adherence to pediatric weight management intervention (PWMI). Methods. We examined individual associations of positive screens for parental stress, parental depression, food insecurity, and housing insecurity with intervention adherence, and associations of 0, 1 or 2, and 3 or 4 unmet social needs with adherence, among children enrolled in a 2017–2019 comparative effectiveness trial for 2 hi…
Fostering Resilience in Pregnancy and Early Childhood During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Pregnancy and early childhood pose unique sensitivity to stressors such as economic instability, poor mental health, and social inequities all of which have been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. In absence of protective buffers, prolonged exposure to excessive, early adversity can lead to poor health outcomes with significant impact lasting beyond the childhood years. Helping Us Grow Stronger (HUGS/Abrazos) is a community-based program, design…
Development and Psychometric Properties of the Sleep Parenting Scale for Infants
Although infants' sleep behaviors are shaped by their interactions with parents at bedtime, few tools exist to capture parents' sleep parenting practices. This study developed a Sleep Parenting Scale for Infants (SPS-I) and aimed to (1) explore and validate its factorial structure, (2) examine its measurement invariance across mothers and fathers, and (3) investigate its reliability and concurrent and convergent validity. SPS-I was developed via …
Association of sugar-sweetened beverage intake with maternal postpartum weight retention
Objective: During the perinatal period, modifiable behaviours contributing to excess weight gain, including sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, are understudied. We examined the extent to which perinatal SSB intake affects postpartum weight retention (PPWR). Design: We measured SSB intake frequency in the third trimester and 1-month postpartum using the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire. We assessed the association between SSB intake and P…
Breastfeeding and risk of overweight in childhood and beyond
Medicine (31 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (20 works) · Obesity (14 works) · Psychology (14 works) · Nursing (13 works) · Demography (11 works) · Environmental health (10 works) · Internal Medicine (10 works) · Family medicine (9 works) · Gerontology (9 works)