Mina Torres1, Stanley Azen, Rohit Varma. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1450 San Pablo Street, DEI 4900, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of obesity in a sample of primarily urban Mexican Americans (the fastest growing segment of the US population), and to examine the association between obesity and co-morbid conditions. METHODS: Subjects were participants from a cross-sectional, population-based prevalence study. Data were collected on 6038 noninstitutionalized self-identified Latinos of primarily Mexican American ancestry age > or = 40 years from six census tracts in Los Angeles County, California. Obesity was defined having a body mass index > or = 30.0 kg/m2. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity was 50% (females 54% vs males 43%, P < .0001). Stepwise logistic regression analyses revealed that obesity was positively associated with being a former smoker (OR 1.5, P = .0009), being unemployed (OR 1.5, P < .0001), and with female sex (OR 1.3, P = .02). Obesity was negatively associated with being single or divorced (OR .8, P = .014), being a current smoker (OR .6, P < .0001), and with age > or = 70 years (OR .4, P < .0001). After adjusting for sex and age, obesity was significantly associated with the following systemic comorbidities: hypertension, heart failure, arthritis, diabetes, angina, back pain, and asthma (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Because of the high prevalence of obesity and its associated systemic co-morbidities, an evaluation of current intervention programs is needed to determine the most effective approach to help decrease the prevalence of obesity and the risk of associated co-morbidities in this the fastest growing segment of the US population.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of obesity in a sample of primarily urban Mexican Americans (the fastest growing segment of the US population), and to examine the association between obesity and co-morbid conditions. METHODS: Subjects were participants from a cross-sectional, population-based prevalence study. Data were collected on 6038 noninstitutionalized self-identified Latinos of primarily Mexican American ancestry age > or = 40 years from six census tracts in Los Angeles County, California. Obesity was defined having a body mass index > or = 30.0 kg/m2. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity was 50% (females 54% vs males 43%, P < .0001). Stepwise logistic regression analyses revealed that obesity was positively associated with being a former smoker (OR 1.5, P = .0009), being unemployed (OR 1.5, P < .0001), and with female sex (OR 1.3, P = .02). Obesity was negatively associated with being single or divorced (OR .8, P = .014), being a current smoker (OR .6, P < .0001), and with age > or = 70 years (OR .4, P < .0001). After adjusting for sex and age, obesity was significantly associated with the following systemic comorbidities: hypertension, heart failure, arthritis, diabetes, angina, back pain, and asthma (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Because of the high prevalence of obesity and its associated systemic co-morbidities, an evaluation of current intervention programs is needed to determine the most effective approach to help decrease the prevalence of obesity and the risk of associated co-morbidities in this the fastest growing segment of the US population.
Authors: Leonor Corsino; María Pilar Rocha-Goldberg; Bryan C Batch; David I Ortiz-Melo; Hayden B Bosworth; Laura P Svetkey Journal: Ethn Dis Date: 2012 Impact factor: 1.847
Authors: Maria Del Pilar Rocha-Goldberg; Leonor Corsino; Bryan Batch; Corrine I Voils; Carolyn T Thorpe; Hayden B Bosworth; Laura P Svetkey Journal: Ethn Health Date: 2010-06 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: V Saroja Voruganti; Subrata D Nath; Shelley A Cole; Farook Thameem; Jeremy B Jowett; Richard Bauer; Jean W MacCluer; John Blangero; Anthony G Comuzzie; Hanna E Abboud; Nedal H Arar Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2008-11-11 Impact factor: 5.958