Do Latino immigrants link self-rated health with BMI and health behaviors?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between self-rated health, obesity, and self-reported health behaviors of Latino immigrants


METHODS
Two hundred two Latino immigrants (mean age=31.63, SD=8.30, 54% female) participated in a 15-minute interview and height and weight measurements.


RESULTS
Participants reporting good to excellent health reported engaging in physical activity during the past month (P<.05), eating more fruits and vegetables (P<.001 and P<.01 respectively), and watching less television (P<.01) than did those who reported fair to poor health. Self-rated health was not associated with BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater attention to Latinos' self-perception of health in relation to weight is needed to develop interventions to improve health status.
Kepka
Deanna
D
Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. kepka@u.washington.edu
Ayala
Guadalupe X
GX
Cherrington
Andrea
A
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology