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. 2022 Dec;24(6):1469-1479.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-022-01334-8. Epub 2022 Feb 17.

Assessing Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic White Social Determinants of Obesity Among a Community Sample of Residents in the Rural Southeast US

Carrie R Howell  1 , Lucia Juarez  2 , April A Agne  2 , Ariann F Nassel  3 , Isabel C Scarinci  2 , Guadalupe X Ayala  4 , Andrea L Cherrington  2
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Assessing Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic White Social Determinants of Obesity Among a Community Sample of Residents in the Rural Southeast US

Carrie R Howell et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Employing an ecological approach, we sought to identify social determinants of obesity among Hispanics/Latinos and non-Hispanic whites living in the Southeast US. Data on social determinants of obesity (individual, family, community and cultural/contextual) were collected from 217 participants [106 Hispanics/Latinos; 111 non-Hispanic whites]; height and weight were objectively measured. We compared prevalence of overweight and obese between ethnic groups and BMI values within each group by social determinants. Hispanics had a 1.9-fold increase (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.05-3.55) in overweight prevalence compared to non-Hispanic whites after adjusting for age and gender. We found positive estimates between unfavorable family-level determinants and BMI among Hispanic/Latinos. In contrast, non-Hispanic whites who reported unfavorable neighborhood characteristics had higher BMI's. Findings highlight the need for targeted approaches for the prevention and control of obesity.

Keywords: Health disparity; Hispanic/Latino; Obesity; Obesogenic environment; Social determinants of health.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Community Energy Balance Framework, adapted from Kumanyika et al. [25]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Hispanics/Latinos compared to non-Hispanic whites, adjusted for age and gender
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean BMI values by social determinants within each Community Energy Balance level, stratified by ethnicity
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