Racial/ethnic disparities in exercise and dietary behaviors of middle-aged and older adults.
BACKGROUND
Differences in health behaviors may be important contributors to racial/ethnic disparities in the health status of adults. Studies to date have not compared whether there are health behavior differences in exercise and dietary behaviors among middle-age and older adults in the four largest racial/ethnic categories.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate racial/ethnic differences in exercise and dietary behaviors of middle-aged and older adults.


METHODS
We used data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine interactions between age and race/ethnicity in predicting two categories of health behaviors. Analyses were conducted adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health insurance status, and healthcare utilization.


METHODS
A population-based sample of 33,189 California adults 45 years old and older: 26,522 non-Hispanic whites, 1,686 African American/blacks, 2,565 Asian/Pacific Islanders (1,741 English-proficient; 824 limited English-proficient), and 2,416 Latinos (1,538 English-proficient; 878 limited English-proficient).


METHODS
Self-report leisure-time physical activity (moderate and vigorous) and daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.


RESULTS
Racial/ethnic minorities generally engaged in less healthy exercise and dietary behaviors than whites, with differences more pronounced in middle adulthood. The disparities were the greatest among English-proficient minorities. Specifically, among middle-aged respondents, all racial/ethnic minorities engaged in less vigorous physical activity than whites (ORs range = 0.28 to 0.73; 95% CI range = 0.16-1.00). Additionally, middle-aged, English-proficient minorities engaged in less moderate physical activity compared to whites (ORs range =0.57 to 0.67; 95% CI range = 0.45-0.79). Furthermore, middle-aged, English-proficient Latinos had a poorer diet than whites (OR = 0.54; 0.39-0.75). Few significant racial/ethnic differences emerged in the exercise and dietary behaviors of older adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Racial/ethnic disparities in exercise and dietary behaviors are most notable among middle-aged, acculturated minorities. Results highlight the need to promote positive exercise and dietary behaviors during critical preventive ages, when racial/ethnic disparities are large and the potential to prevent chronic disease is great.
August
Kristin J
KJ
Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care and Health Policy Research Institute, University of California Irvine, 100 Theory, Suite 110, Irvine, CA 92617, USA.
Sorkin
Dara H
DH
D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology; D002140:California / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000208:ethnology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000208:ethnology*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014675:Vegetables; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology