Obesity among Latinx people in the United States: A review

Abstract

Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that is associated with a range of adiposity‐based comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In the United States, obesity is a public health crisis, affecting more than 40% of the population. Obesity disproportionately affects Latinx people, who have a higher prevalence of obesity and related comorbidities (such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) compared with the general population. Many factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, traditional calorie‐dense Latinx diets, family dynamics, and differences in socioeconomic status, contribute to the increased prevalence and complexity of treating obesity in the Latinx population. Additionally, significant heterogeneity within the Latinx population and disparities in health care access and utilization between Latinx people and the general population add to the challenge of obesity management. Culturally tailored interventions have been successful for managing obesity and related comorbidities in Latinx people. Antiobesity medications and bariatric surgery are also important options for obesity treatment in Latinx people. As highlighted in this review, when managing obesity in the Latinx population, it is critical to consider the impact of genetic, dietary, cultural, and socioeconomic factors, in order to implement an individualized treatment strategy.

Crucial Regulatory Role of Organokines in Relation to Metabolic Changes in Non-Diabetic Obesity

“…Based on healthcare data, the worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled since 1975 with an estimated 135 million people being overweight or obese in Europe [ 2 ]. However, the ratio of overweight or obesity shows a high variability according to the different geographical region, such as 42.2% in the general adult population in the United States [ 3 ]; 44.8% among the Latin population in the United States [ 3 ]; 17.8% in the overall population in Dubai [ 4 ]; 21.6% in South African subjects [ 5 ] and 47.6% in Europe [ 6 ]. As a matter of fact, data from Central Eastern European region are more concerning than those from Western European countries; for instance, in the Hungarian population, the overweight (body mass index; BMI: ≥25 kg/m 2 ) and obesity (BMI: ≥30 kg/m 2 ) prevalence are approximately 35% and 20%, respectively [ 7 ].…”

Use and continuity of weight‐modifying medications among adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity: US population study

“…There are several potential reasons for the inadequate use of WR medications by racial and ethnic minority patients. It is possible that clinicians are not prescribing these medications as a reflection of implicit bias or assumptions about weight management in minority populations [6,24,25]. Hence, there is still a need for more education among health care professionals in terms of recognizing obesity as a chronic relapsing disease [22,26] and the benefits of long-term treatment [24,25].…”

“…After weight loss attempts with lifestyle intervention and/or pharmacotherapy, patients with excess adiposity often face a negative pathophysiological counter-response, limiting weight loss efforts [6,29]. Hence, it was concerning to find patterns of increasing use of WI medications for other conditions than diabetes or excess weight at national levels, which will also counteract weight loss efforts.…”

“…Recent national estimates showed that, among adults with T2D, the prevalence of overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 to 29.9 kg/m 2 ) decreased from 31.5% to 27.7%, while the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) increased from 51.6% to 62%, from 1999 to 2018 [3]. Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excess and ectopic deposition of dysfunctional adipose tissue, and it exacerbates the common complications and comorbidities of diabetes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis [4–6]. Addressing obesity is therefore a core component of diabetes management and for improving health outcomes [7].…”

“…characterized by excess and ectopic deposition of dysfunctional adipose tissue, and it exacerbates the common complications and comorbidities of diabetes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis [4][5][6]. Addressing obesity is therefore a core component of diabetes management and for improving health outcomes [7].…”