OBJECTIVE -The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a flexible lower-and higher-glycemic index (GI) Mexican-style diet on biochemical data and BMI during a 6-week treatment period. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-This study was a randomized, crossover design of two 6-week periods with a 6-week washout period between treatments. Subjects with type 2 diabetes (n ϭ 36) with a BMI Ͼ25 kg/m 2 were selected. Fourteen subjects completed the study with eligible dietary records. Dietary instruction was provided on flexible diets with both a high and low GI. Fasting venous blood samples were taken at the start and finish of each dietary period, and biochemical data were analyzed. Multi-and univariate one-factor repeated-measures ANOVA were used to compare biochemical data.RESULTS -Glycemic load and GI were lower during the low-GI diet, and dietary fiber was lower during the high-GI diet. The participants in the low-GI period consumed significantly fewer carbohydrates, such as white-wheat bread, white long-grain rice, potatoes, high-GI fruits, and carrots, and more carbohydrates, such as pinto beans, whole-meal wheat bread, and low-GI fruits than did participants in the high-GI period. There were no differences in the amount of carbohydrates consumed, such as corn tortillas and dairy products. At the end of the study periods, A1c was improved on the low-compared with the high-GI diet (P Ͻ 0.008).CONCLUSIONS -We conclude that a low-GI diet, containing Mexican-style foods, may help to improve the metabolic control in type 2 obese diabetic subjects during a 6-week period. 26:1967-1970, 2003 I n Mexico, the incidence of diabetes has been increasing, and this epidemic is likely to continue to escalate. The prevalence of diabetes increased from 8.2% in 1993 to 11.8% in 2000. In Mexico City, the central and southern states, and among underprivileged people (including the Mexican Indians), the prevalence of diabetes increased to 14% (1). Diabetes CareIt is well established that different types of carbohydrates produce different glycemic responses (2-5). The glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) have been proposed as a method of ranking foods on the basis of the incremental blood glucose response they produce for a given amount of carbohydrates (6 -8). Although the predictor effect of the GI and insulin responses to mixed meals is controversial (3,9 -11), there are significant associations between the GI and/or GL and control of blood glucose, despite the imprecision of the measures (8,12). Results from two large prospective studies, the Nurses' Health Study (7) and the Health Professionals' Follow-Up Study (13), showed a positive association between a high-GI diet and risk of developing diabetes.On the other hand, there have been studies examining the incidence of type 2 diabetes in African Americans (14) that showed no association of GI and GL with diabetes risk. In a recent study conducted in Australian overweight subjects, eating a low-GI diet showed a reduction of A1c, triacylglycerol, and LDL cholesterol after ...

Numerous previous studies have reported positive associations between exposure to greenspace and children's physical activity, but in high-income countries only. Prior studies have also examined greenspace and obesity in children, but these have yielded inconsistent results and focused mostly on older children. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between time children spent in greenspace as the primary exposure and our outcomes of interest, including 1) minutes of physical activity, and 2) body mass index (BMI) z-score. Our sample was 102 children ages 3 to 5 years living in Ensenada and Tijuana, Mexico. We fit linear mixed models to estimate associations between greenspace and children's physical activity and BMI z-score. After adjustment for potential confounders, greater time in greenspace was associated with decreased sedentary time (−0.08 min per hour for each additional 30 min in greenspace; 95% CI −0.13, −0.04; p = 0.002) and increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (0.06; 95% CI 0.03, 0.10; p < 0.001). Results were driven primarily by children in Tijuana (−0.22; 95% CI −0.38, −0.06; p = 0.008 for sedentary time and 0.15; 95% CI 0.06, 0.38; p = 0.007 for MVPA). Time in greenspace was not associated with BMI z-score in children in Ensenada (0.001; 95% CI −0.008, 0.01; p = 0.83) or Tijuana (−0.009; 95% CI −0.02, 0.004; p = 0.17). Greater time in greenspace was associated with physical activity but not BMI in our sample of children—more so in Tijuana compared to Ensenada. Given high rates of obesity, interventions should aim to increase physical activity in young children in Northern Mexico.

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Previous studies have found increased acculturation to the US lifestyle increases risk for obesity in Latinos. However, methodologies differ, and results in children are inconsistent. Moreover, previous studies have not evaluated risk factors within the heterogeneous US population. We recruited 144 self-identified Latino school children and their mother or father in grades 4–6 in San Francisco parochial schools and South San Francisco public schools using an information letter distributed to all students. Children and parents had weights, heights, demographic information, dietary patterns and lifestyle variables collected in English or Spanish through an interview format. A high percentage of our children were overweight [≥85th percentile body mass index (BMI)] (62.5%) and obese (≥95th percentile BMI) (45.2%). Correspondingly parents also had a high percentage of overweight (BMI ≥ 25 & <30) (40.8%) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) (45.3%). Mexico was the country of origin for 62.2% of parents, and 26.6% were from Central or South America. In multivariate logistic analysis, speaking Spanish at home was an independent risk factor for obesity [odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–6.86]. Eating breakfast daily (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15–0.78) and consumption of tortas (a Mexican fast food sandwich) (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21–1.00) were associated with decreased risk. In stratified analysis, significant differences in risk factors existed between Mexican origin versus Central/South American Latino children. The processes of acculturation likely impact eating and lifestyle practices differentially among Latino groups. Interventions should focus on ensuring that all children eat a nutritious breakfast and take into consideration ethnicity when working with Latino populations.