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Electronic letters published:
![[Read Comment]](/icons/misc/sectionDOWN.gif){kind=icon}
A Need for Research on Latinos to Move Forward Towards Interventions that Address Dietary Habits and Physical Activity
Acculturation and Healthy Lifestyle Among Latinos With Diabetes
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Maria Rosa Solorio, Los Angeles, CA Assistant Professor
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The study conducted by Mainous et al., on Acculturation and Healthy Lifestyle among Latinos with Diabetes adds to the existing literature on this topic (1-4). Although the current study used an acculturation measure that was limited to use of Spanish language, the study findings show that the more acculturated Latinos (less likely to use Spanish language) appear to have less desirable dietary habits. This research points to a need for anthropological and environmental research that explores acculturation among Latinos and that identifies factors associated with Latinos’ food making decisions and their beliefs and understandings about the need for physical activity as well as research on environmental factors that may serve as facilitators or barriers in making dietary choices and in engaging in physical activity; such research needs to identify mutable factors that may be targeted with interventions to increase healthy eating and increase physical activity. Of particular interest, some research is now going in that direction and exploring Latino beliefs about diabetes (5). Community-based interventions to improve dietary habits and increase physical activity may be particularly beneficial to Latinos and may be implemented in schools and places of employment; such interventions have been conducted with other racial/ethnic groups at places of employment (6-7). In addition, a recent study reports on the types of environments found to be favorable for walking (8); such studies need to be conducted with Latinos. A need persists for culturally competent diabetes education and support programs for Latinos; a recent community-based approach that enhanced dietary habits and physical activity among various racial/ethnic groups revealed participant’s enthusiasm for classes tailored to their ethnic group (9). Rosa Solorio, M.D., M.P.H. Assistant Professor David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA 1. Arkresh IR. Dietary assimilation and health among Hispanic immigrants in the United States. J Health Soc Behav 2007;48(4):404-17. 2. Gordon-Larsen P, Mullan Harris K, Ward DS, Popkin BM. Acculturation and overweight-related behaviors among Hispanic immigrants to the U.S.: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Social Science and Medicine, 2003:2023-2034. 3. Neuhouser ML, Thompson B, Coronado GD, Solomon CC. Higher fat intake and lower fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with greater acculturation among Mexicans living in Washington State. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004:104(1):51-7. 4. Gray VB, Cossman JS, Dodson WL, Byrd SH. Dietary acculturation of Hispanic immigrants in Mississippi. Salud Publica Mex. 2005:47(5):351-60. 5. Arcury TA, Skelly AN, Gesler WM, Dougherty MC. Diabetes meanings among those without diabetes: explanatory models of immigrant Latinos in rural North Carolina. Social Science & Medicine 2004:2183-2193. 6. Hughes MC, Girolami TM, Cheadle AD, Harris JR, Patrick DL. A lifestyle -based weight management program delivered to employees: examination of health and economic outcomes. J Occup Environ Med. 2007:49(11): 1212-7. 7. Green BB, Cheadle A, Pellegrini AS, Harris JR. Active for life: a work -based physical activity program. Prev Chronic Dis. 2007:4(3):a63. Epub 2007 Jun 15. 8. Moudon AV, Lee C, Cheadle AD, Garvin C, Rd DB, Schmid TL, Weathers RD. Attributes of environments supporting walking. Am J Health Promot. 2007:21(5):448-59. 9. Garvin CC, Cheadle A, Chrisman N, Chen R, Brunson E. A community-based approach to diabetes control in multiple cultural groups. Ethn Dis. 2004:14(3 Suppl 1):S83-92. Competing interests: None declared |
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Carolyn C. Lopez, Chicago, Ill., USA Family Physician
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First of all, I'm delighted to see this article. The health of the Hispanic/Latino population in the US is increasing in importance as this population is increasing in numbers. The article is a thoughtful piece. Acculturation is definitely a mixed bag. Previous studies have demonstrated better birth outcomes for pregnant Latinas who are less acculturated. Documenting the negative influence of acculturation on diet in Hispanics is important. One of the difficulties I have with the article is the lumping together of the study population under the rubric "Latinos". While this may be an acceptable categorization, the reality is that there are real differences in the various Hispanic subpopulations. For example, the Mexican population has a greater problem with lack of insurance than the Puerto Rican subgroup. It's possible that breaking the study population down by subgroup may have rendered the numbers too small for analysis. If that were the case, it would still have been helpful to note the make-up of the study group. That could have helped not only with interpretation, but also with directing future studies. Overall, though, it is a good starting point to ask at least one obvious question--"How do we intervene to prevent this loss of a key cultural protective factor?" Competing interests: None declared |
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