Healthy eating patterns associated with acculturation, sex and BMI among Mexican Americans

Bibliographic Data

ID15097038
AuthorsBelinda Reininger (0000-0003-4446-9735, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, corresponding author), Min-Jae Lee (0000-0002-4329-506X, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), Minjae Lee (0000-0001-7615-9593), Rose Jennings (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), Alexandra Evans (0000-0002-4055-7300, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), Michelle Vidoni, Michelle L Vidoni (0000-0002-9020-4394, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)
Year2017
Volume20
Issue7
Pages1267-1278
Publication date2017-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980016003311
PMID28004615
OpenAlexW2561416112
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited61

Objective Examine relationships of healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns with BMI, sex, age and acculturation among Mexican Americans. Design Cross-sectional. Participants completed culturally tailored Healthy and Unhealthy Eating Indices. Multivariable mixed-effect Poisson regression models compared food pattern index scores and dietary intake of specific foods by BMI, sex, age and acculturation defined by language preference and generational status. Setting Participants recruited from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort study, Texas–Mexico border region, between 2008 and 2011. Subjects Mexican-American males and females aged 18–97 years ( n 1250). Results Participants were primarily female (55·3 %), overweight or obese (85·7 %), preferred Spanish language (68·0 %) and first-generation status (60·3 %). Among first-generation participants, bilingual participants were less likely to have a healthy eating pattern than preferred Spanish-speaking participants (rate ratio (RR)=0·79, P =0·0218). This association was also found in males (RR=0·81, P =0·0098). Preferred English-speaking females were less likely to consume healthy foods than preferred Spanish-speaking females (RR=0·84, P =0·0293). Among second-generation participants, preferred English-speaking participants were more likely to report a higher unhealthy eating pattern than preferred Spanish-speaking participants (RR=1·23, P =0·0114). Higher unhealthy eating patterns were also found in females who preferred English v . females who preferred Spanish (RR=1·23, P =0·0107) or were bilingual (RR=1·26, P =0·0159). Younger, male participants were more likely to have a higher unhealthy eating pattern. BMI and diabetes status were not significantly associated with healthy or unhealthy eating patterns. Conclusions Acculturation, age, sex and education are associated with healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns. Nutrition interventions for Mexican Americans should tailor approaches by these characteristics

Acculturation · Body mass index · Cohort · Ethnic group · Obesity · Overweight · Poisson regression · Population · Young adult · Demography · Medicine · Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Gerontology · Internal Medicine