title: Body mass index in multiethnic midlife women: influence of demographic characteristics and physical activity.
abstract: We examined the influence of demographic characteristics and physical activity on body mass index (BMI) in multiethnic midlife women. A sample of 236 African, European, and Mexican/Central Americans aged 40-50 completed the initial, 1-year, and 2-year assessments. The effects of demographic characteristics and physical activity on BMI at the 2-year assessment were evaluated using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. After controlling for other demographic factors, ethnicity, annual household income, and physical activity at the initial assessments were significant predictors of BMI. Body mass index (BMI) may be influenced by socioeconomic status as well as ethnicity. Regular physical activity should be encouraged to maintain a healthy BMI in midlife women.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0606, USA. jiwonchoi@nursing.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guiterrez
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilliss
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology
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