title: Healthy eating patterns associated with acculturation, sex and BMI among Mexican Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine relationships of healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns with BMI, sex, age and acculturation among Mexican Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional. Participants completed culturally tailored Healthy and Unhealthy Eating Indices. Multivariable mixed-effect Poisson regression models compared food pattern index scores and dietary intake of specific foods by BMI, sex, age and acculturation defined by language preference and generational status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants recruited from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort study, Texas-Mexico border region, between 2008 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mexican-American males and females aged 18-97 years (n 1250).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were primarily female (55·3 %), overweight or obese (85·7 %), preferred Spanish language (68·0 %) and first-generation status (60·3 %). Among first-generation participants, bilingual participants were less likely to have a healthy eating pattern than preferred Spanish-speaking participants (rate ratio (RR)=0·79, P=0·0218). This association was also found in males (RR=0·81, P=0·0098). Preferred English-speaking females were less likely to consume healthy foods than preferred Spanish-speaking females (RR=0·84, P=0·0293). Among second-generation participants, preferred English-speaking participants were more likely to report a higher unhealthy eating pattern than preferred Spanish-speaking participants (RR=1·23, P=0·0114). Higher unhealthy eating patterns were also found in females who preferred English v. females who preferred Spanish (RR=1·23, P=0·0107) or were bilingual (RR=1·26, P=0·0159). Younger, male participants were more likely to have a higher unhealthy eating pattern. BMI and diabetes status were not significantly associated with healthy or unhealthy eating patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acculturation, age, sex and education are associated with healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns. Nutrition interventions for Mexican Americans should tailor approaches by these characteristics.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,School of Public Health,Brownsville Regional Campus,One West University Blvd,RAHC,Brownsville,TX 78520,USA.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reininger
authors.affiliation: 2University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,Houston,TX,USA.
authors.forename: MinJae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 3University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,School of Public Health,Austin Regional Campus,Austin,TX,USA.
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: 3University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,School of Public Health,Austin Regional Campus,Austin,TX,USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: 1University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,School of Public Health,Brownsville Regional Campus,One West University Blvd,RAHC,Brownsville,TX 78520,USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vidoni
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acculturation; Community nutrition; Healthy eating patterns; Mexican Americans; US–Mexico border