Using focus groups to identify factors affecting healthful weight maintenance in Latino immigrants.
OBJECTIVE
To explore (1) how migration influenced physical activity and dietary behaviors among Latino immigrants and (2) participants' perception of concepts related to a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach to weight maintenance (mindful eating, taking care of oneself).


METHODS
Four focus groups (n = 35), homogenous by sex, were conducted in Spanish.


RESULTS
Male and female participants spoke of being less physically active and eating less healthful diets since immigrating. Noted barriers to being physically active and eating a healthful diet included time and financial constraints. Participants were interested in the HAES concepts but thought these ideas conflicted with their cultural upbringing. For women, putting family first was identified as a barrier to taking care of oneself.


CONCLUSIONS
An HAES approach may be a useful in promoting weight maintenance in this population, as participants were interested in key concepts, but it would be important that HAES interventions incorporate cultural traditions.
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. mgreaney@hsph.harvard.edu
Mary L
ML
Greaney
Faith D
FD
Lees
Breanna
B
Lynch
Linda
L
Sebelia
Geoffrey W
GW
Greene
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult