Potential Mediators of Ethnic Differences in Physical Activity in Older Mexican Americans and European Americans: Results from the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging

Abstract

Factors were examined that might explain reported ethnic differences in leisure time physical activity (LTPA) between Mexican Americans (MAs) and European Americans (EAs). Data were from a random sample of 749 community-dwelling MAs and EAs, aged 65 and older, who participated in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA) baseline examination. Variables examined included LTPA measured as kilocalories of energy expended per week, contextual variables (age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), acculturation/structural assimilation), psychosocial measures (self-esteem, mastery, perceived health control), lifestyle variables (fat avoidance, current alcohol drinker, years smoking, body mass index (BMI)), and presence of chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, mild cognitive impairment). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine potential mediators of the ethnic group-LTPA association. EAs expended almost 300 kcal/wk more energy than did MAs (1,287 kcal/wk vs 1,001 kcal/wk). SES and psychosocial (self-esteem), lifestyle (fat avoidance, smoking, BMI), and disease (depression) factors that vary by SES explained this ethnic difference. In MAs, structural assimilation, but not acculturation, was significantly associated with LTPA independent of SES. Self-esteem, BMI, and depression explained this association. Psychosocial resources, lifestyle behaviors, and depression explain differences in LTPA between older MAs and EAs. Interventions to increase LTPA in both ethnic groups should be targeted especially at women and persons who have low self-esteem, smoke, and are obese or depressed. In MAs, additional emphasis should be focused on those who are less structurally assimilated into the broader American society.

Artificial Sweeteners Stimulate Adipogenesis and Suppress Lipolysis Independently of Sweet Taste Receptors

“…Such artificial sweeteners, including saccharin, AceK, aspartame, sucralose, and neotame, have little to no caloric value but are hundreds of times sweeter than sucrose. However, some studies suggest that high level consumers of artificial sweeteners may actually be at greater risk for overweight and obesity (44). Although not all studies agree with this assessment (45)(46)(47), the hypothesis that artificial sweeteners "uncouple" anticipated caloric density perceived by the tongue from the actual calories ingested has gained a distinct foothold.…”

A Systematic Literature Review of Sport and Physical Activity Participation in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Migrant Populations

“…Overall, previous physical activity experience [e.g., 44,86] and general health [e.g., 50,87] were positive correlates of physical activity. Lack of good health [72] or having depression had a negative association with physical activity.…”

Acculturation and physical activity among immigrants: a systematic review

“…Non-supportive findings were found in studies with younger children (Crespo et al 2006;Martinez et al 2008;Taverno et al 2010;Unger et al 2004) and older adolescents (Carvajal et al 2002;Gordon-Larsen et al 2002). Research with elderly people is rare, but indicates that acculturation is less influential in older age (Cantero et al 1999;Masel et al 2006;Mejean et al 2009), although positive findings were reported with elderly Mexicans (Dergance et al 2005) and Koreans (Richman et al 2000).…”

“…Several investigations used multiethnic samples (Dawson et al 2005;Dogra et al 2010;Tremblay et al 2006;Wolin et al 2006), or recruited individuals from several particular ethnic populations (Afable-Munsuz et al 2010;Allen et al 2007;Hosper et al 2008;Singh et al 2008;Unger et al 2004). Some studies were confined to individuals with specific ethnic backgrounds such as Mexicans (Crespo et al 2001;Dergance et al 2005;Martinez et al 2008;Masel et al 2006;Wilbur et al 2003), Puerto Ricans (Fitzgerald et al 2006), Koreans (Choi et al 2008;Hofstetter et al 2008;Richman et al 2000;Song et al 2004), Turks (Hosper et al 2007) and Tunisians (Mejean et al 2009). Partly supporting results were found in Hispanic, Asian, Turkish, North and Sub-Saharan African, and multiethnic samples.…”

“…behavioral and subjective elements of culture) and contain a bidimensional/orthogonal approach (independent orientation towards the original and new cultures) have been used less often. Nine studies included unidirectional measures of acculturation (Chen 2009;Dergance et al 2005;Hofstetter et al 2008;Hosper et al 2007;Hosper et al 2008;Marquez and McAuley 2006;Pérez-Stable et al 1994;Unger et al 2004;Yang et al 2007). Unger et al (2004) used the AHIMSA acculturation scale, which draws on a bidirectional approach.…”