LEVELS OF SELF-REPORTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG OVERWEIGHT MEXICAN AMERICAN WOMEN
Background: MAW, identified as the fastest growing subgroup of Latino/Hispanic populations in CA, show rapidly rising obesity rates and sedentary lifestyles that can potentially lead to chronic health conditions (i.e. CVD and diabetes). Reported low levels of leisure time PA and discrepancies found in reports showing mixed results on levels of PA among MAW accentuate the need to further examine PA in this population.
Methods: Using community-based participatory research methods, community leaders from recruitment sites assisted in selecting six women of Mexican descent with community work experience to form a Community Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB guided in recruitment procedures done by two trained bilingual Research Assistants (RAs). Following screening and informed consent procedures, the Principal Investigator and RAs conducted face-to-face interviews on measures of PA (Short International Physical Activity Questionnaire), acculturation level (General Acculturation Index) and sociodemographic data (i.e. age, health conditions, employment status). BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-V22 to compute frequencies and descriptive. A test of correlations and ordinal regression analyses were performed to examine relationships among variables.
Results: Study sample consisted of 117 self-identified MAW who were married or single and living with a partner. Women ranged in age from19 to 64 (mean=38.9 years; SD =11.08) and most were obese based on BMI (mean=31.1; SD=7.05). Total number of self-reported health conditions ranged from 1 to 2 (n=32, 27.4%; n=14, 12%, respectively) to 8 conditions (n=1, .9%). Sixty five percent of women (n=76) were unemployed and acculturation level was low (mean=1.8, SD=.77; (possible range 1 [low] to 5 [high]), indicating most participants spoke Spanish only or had limited English. Self-reported PA was categorized with 23% (n=24) low, 34% (n=35) as moderate and 43% (n=44) as high.
Although Spearman Correlations between PA and predictors: BMI, health conditions, age, acculturation and employment were .046, .069, -.059, .263, and -.158, respectively, none were shown to be significant. However, further analysis using an ordinal regression, controlling for other factors, showed that acculturation (p=.025) was significant in predicting levels of PA. There was a 2.1 increase in the ratio of the odds from lower to higher PA for each unit increase in GAI. This ratio stayed the same for all categories.
Implications: Contrary to popular beliefs, a large percent of overweight/obese MAW in this study were found to be physically active. Future interventions are needed to address weight management and loss. Culturally-focused lifestyle behavior programs should support maintenance of this behavior in physically active MAW and include strategies to promote PA in those who are more sedentary.