title: Identifying the Complexity of Multiple Risk Factors for Obesity Among Urban Latinas.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity is rising rapidly among Hispanics/Latinas. We evaluated the prevalence of being obese or overweight and associated risk factors among 630 low-income, Latina women from ambulatory care clinics in Upper Manhattan. Overall, 37 % of the sample was overweight and 41 % of the sample was obese, and yet, almost half of women who are overweight considered their weight "just about right." After adjusting for socio-demographic, behavioral, and biological risk factors, being obese was strongly associated with having hypertension [relative risk ratio (RRR) 3.93, 1.75-8.82], pre-hypertension (RRR 2.59, 1.43-4.67), diabetes (RRR 2.50, 1.21-5.14) and moderate/moderately severe/severe depression (RRR 2.09, 1.03-4.26). Women who reported that finding time was a barrier to physical activity were also more likely to be obese (RRR 1.78, 1.04-3.02). Chronic financial stress was associated with lower risk of being overweight (RRR 0.47, 0.28-0.79) or obese (RRR 0.51, 0.31-0.86), as well as eating out at restaurants (RRR 0.75, 0.62-0.89). Opportunities for intervention relate to understanding cultural factors around perceptions of weight and helping women find the time for physical activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Columbia University, 617 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA. rm3284@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Masterson Creber
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital, 622 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Columbia University, 617 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rothenberg
authors.affiliation: The Value Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital, 622 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Columbia University, 617 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Comorbidity; Diabetes mellitus; Hispanics; Hypertension; Latinas; Obesity; Overweight