Weight Status Among Minnesota Hispanic or Latino/a Youth: An Exploration of Protective Factors

• Published in: American journal of health promotion 2023-02, Vol.37 (2), p.177-188
• Main Authors: Martin, Christie L., McMorris, Barbara J., Eisenberg, Marla E., Sieving, Renee E., Porta, Carolyn M., Mathiason, Michelle A., Espinoza, Sarah M., Cespedes, Yazmin A., Fulkerson, Jayne A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Body Mass Index; Child; Female; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Male; Minnesota - epidemiology; Overweight - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - prevention & control; Protective Factors; Vegetables
• ISSN: 0890-1171; 2168-6602
• DOI: 10.1177/08901171221120912

Purpose Pediatric obesity disproportionately impacts Hispanic or Latino/a adolescents. Culturally appropriate family-based behavioral initiatives to improve weight status are warranted. The purpose of this research was to determine prevalence rates and identify protective factors associated with having overweight/obesity (body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) to inform Hispanic or Latino/a-targeted behavioral intervention development. Design Secondary data analyses of a population-based statewide survey. Setting Minnesota public high schools. Participants Male (n = 2,644) and female (n = 2,798) Hispanic or Latino/a 9th and 11th graders (N = 5,442). Measures Obesity-related behaviors (meeting fruit and vegetable [F&V] and physical activity [PA] recommendations), family caring, family country/region of origin, and weight status. Analysis Stepwise logistic regression models (F&V, PA), stratified by biological sex, were used to identify protective factors of overweight/obesity. Results The overall prevalence of meeting F&V and PA recommendations was 11.0% and 11.8%, respectively. Meeting F&V recommendations was not protective against overweight/obesity in either sex. Yet, males and females who met PA recommendations had significantly lower odds of having overweight/obesity (p < .05). In F&V and PA models, family caring was protective against overweight/obesity in females (p < .05), and family country/region of origin was protective against overweight/obesity in both sexes (p < .05). Conclusion Findings illustrate a need for obesity prevention initiatives for Hispanic or Latino/a youth. More research is needed to understand the protective nature of family caring and country/region of origin.