Identifying the Complexity of Multiple Risk Factors for Obesity Among Urban Latinas

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity is rising rapidly among Hispanics/Latinas. We evaluated the prevalence of being obese or overweight and associated risk factors among 630 low-income, Latina women from ambulatory care clinics in Upper Manhattan. Overall, 37 % of the sample was overweight and 41 % of the sample was obese, and yet, almost half of women who are overweight considered their weight “just about right.” After adjusting for socio-demographic, behavioral, and biological risk factors, being obese was strongly associated with having hypertension [relative risk ratio (RRR) 3.93, 1.75–8.82], pre-hypertension (RRR 2.59, 1.43–4.67), diabetes (RRR 2.50, 1.21–5.14) and moderate/moderately severe/severe depression (RRR 2.09, 1.03–4.26). Women who reported that finding time was a barrier to physical activity were also more likely to be obese (RRR 1.78, 1.04–3.02). Chronic financial stress was associated with lower risk of being overweight (RRR 0.47, 0.28–0.79) or obese (RRR 0.51, 0.31–0.86), as well as eating out at restaurants (RRR 0.75, 0.62–0.89). Opportunities for intervention relate to understanding cultural factors around perceptions of weight and helping women find the time for physical activity.

Body composition outcomes of Healthy Fit and the role of acculturation among low-income Hispanics on the US-Mexico border

“…Regressions at follow-up controlled for baseline levels of the dependent variable, thus making acculturation a predictor of change over time [ 32 ]. We included age, gender, and SES as covariates in the regression models based on evidence of their impact on body composition [ 33 ]. Participants classified as normal BMI and/or BFP were included in all analyses.…”

Physical activity motives, barriers, and preferences in people with obesity: A systematic review

“…Briefly, 14 quantitative studies (51.9%) [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68], 10 qualitative studies (37.0%) [69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78], and 3 mixed studies (11.1%) [79][80][81] were included. Among quantitative studies, 11 studies were observational [55][56][57][58][59][63][64][65][66][67][68], and 3 were interventional studies [60][61][62]. However, all interventional studies reported information about barriers and/or motives to habitual PA, not about PA intervention.…”

“…More than half of the quantitative studies have a MMAT score below 50% (57.1%, k = 8) [55][56][57][60][61][62]64,65,68], and all qualitative and mixed studies had a score above 50% (see Table 2 and supplemental S1 Table ). The scores of the quantitative studies below 50% are explained by the fact that non-probability sampling was performed in these studies, impacting the representativeness of the sample and our ability to know the nonresponse rate.…”

Motives, barriers and preferences to physical activity in people with obesity: a systematic review

“…In addition, socioeconomic data of people with obesity are often missing in the included studies, not reported or only reported in all the sample, including people with and without obesity. However, it should be considered that ethnic diversity within the included studies is quite present, with 5 (19.2%) studies performed in ethnic minority groups (Urban Latinas, and African American) (55,57,58,61,68). Third, the use of a scale to quantify the importance of each barrier and motive is not the most accurate method compared to meta-analysis, but allowed in this context the integration of quantitative and qualitative studies, as well as to compare quantitative results with different kinds of questions (score vs. prevalence, Likert scale vs. yes/no answers).…”