Socioeconomic status and prevalence of obesity and diabetes in a Mexican American community, Cameron County, Texas, 2004-2007.
BACKGROUND
Mexican Americans are at increased risk for obesity and diabetes. We established a cohort on the United States-Mexico border to determine the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in this Mexican American population and to see whether minor economic advantages had any effect on health.


METHODS
We randomly selected and extensively documented 810 people aged 35 to 64 years. Weighted data were analyzed to establish prevalence of obesity and diabetes and other markers of poor health such as elevated glycated hemoglobin levels.


RESULTS
Rates of obesity (body mass index > or = 30 kg/m(2)) were 57% in the first (lower) of 4 socioeconomic strata by income and were 55.5% in the third (higher). People in the higher socioeconomic stratum were significantly less likely to have undiagnosed diabetes (2% vs 9%). Among people aged 55 to 64 years, rates of diabetes were significantly higher among those in the lower socioeconomic stratum than among those in the higher stratum. Rates of undiagnosed diabetes had similar differences. Approximately three-fourths of the respondents reported having no health insurance, and we found no difference between people in different socioeconomic strata.


CONCLUSIONS
Rates of obesity and diabetes in this border community are among the highest in the United States. Belonging to the lower socioeconomic stratum significantly increased the likelihood of having undiagnosed diabetes and, in patients too young to be eligible for Medicare, the overall risk of developing diabetes. Modest improvement in income has a beneficial effect on health in this racial/ethnic minority community.
Fisher-Hoch
Susan P
SP
Division of Epidemiology, University of Texas School of Public Health, Brownsville Campus, 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA. susan.p.fisher-hoch@uth.tmc.edu
Rentfro
Anne R
AR
Salinas
Jennifer J
JJ
Pérez
Adriana
A
Brown
H Shelton
HS
Reininger
Belinda M
BM
Restrepo
Blanca I
BI
Wilson
J Gaines
JG
Hossain
M Monir
MM
Rahbar
Mohammad H
MH
Hanis
Craig M
CM
McCormick
Joseph B
JB
D000328:Adult; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
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