Vigorous Physical Work and Obesity?—the Paradox of the Californian Farmworker Population

Abstract

A good understanding of underlying causes of obesity prevalence in the farmworker population is critical in finding effective strategies to fight obesity and related chronic diseases. There is growing evidence that the population of farmworkers fares poorly with regard to health status, but available data on obesity levels and related chronic diseases is scarce or missing. This study examined the prevalence of overweight and obesity among a sample of farmworker population in California. Results of the regression model indicate that along with demographic variables such as age and gender, several lifestyle and behavioral risk factors are associated with obesity of the farmworkers. Results from this study will inform the design of intervention efforts and policies to help improve the health status of the farmworker population at the community level and beyond.

Heat-Related Illness in Midwestern Hispanic Farmworkers: A Descriptive Analysis of Hydration Status and Reported Symptoms

“…Indeed, about one third of our IS group workers were obese. These higher BMI participants often had higher body temperatures Obesity in young HFs has been reported previously (Qenani, MacDougall, & Roy, 2016), but the physiological stress posed by the environment was concretely measured in this study where others may not have implemented the level of surveillance we conducted here. One possible reason that some obese Latino farmworkers enroll in crop production work is because they see the strenuous activity and excessive sweating as an opportunity to lose weight (Lam et al, 2013).…”

Anemia, Weight Status, and Fatigue Among Farmworkers in California

“…Some of the challenges farmworkers face include food insecurity, lack of healthcare access, low income, and language/cultural barriers 3–5 . Much of the work around nutritional status among farmworkers in California focuses on the high prevalence of obesity and noncommunicable diseases 6–9 . In the California Agricultural Workers Health Survey (CAWHS), 81% of male and 76% of female farmworkers were reported either overweight or obese, and many suffered from additional chronic illnesses such as elevated total cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.…”