title: Obesity and health conditions in elderly Mexican Americans: the Hispanic EPESE. Established Population for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly.
abstract: The objective of this analysis was to determine the prevalence of obesity and its association with selected medical conditions in a non-institutionalized elderly Mexican-American population. Data employed are from a representative sample of 3050 elderly Mexican Americans from the five Southwestern states: Texas, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Complete Body Mass Index (BMI) data were available for 2769 individuals. The in-home survey obtained socio-demographic data, anthropometric measurements, including height and weight, blood pressure readings, self-reported health conditions and depressive symptomatology. It was found that 23% of men and 35% of women were obese (BMI > or =30 kg/m2). Using a weighted logistic regression model, a BMI of > or =26 kg/m2 was associated with a significantly higher risk of diabetes; a BMI of > or =30 kg/m2 was significantly associated with arthritis and measured hypertension and a BMI<22 kg/m2 was associated with a higher likelihood of self-reported cancer. In addition, the prevalence of obesity was found to be much higher in this elderly Mexican-American population than in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1153, USA.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Ostir
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Markides
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Goodwin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D015206:Southwestern United States