Healthy eating patterns associated with acculturation, sex and BMI among Mexican Americans. Issue 7 (22nd December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reininger, Belinda; Lee, MinJae; Jennings, Rose; Evans, Alexandra; Vidoni, Michelle
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 20:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 1267
• Page End: 1278
• Publication Date: 2016-12-22
• Subjects: Healthy eating patterns, -- Mexican Americans, -- US–Mexico border, -- Acculturation, -- Community nutrition; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980016003311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Examine relationships of healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns with BMI, sex, age and acculturation among Mexican Americans. Design: 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. Setting: Participants recruited from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort study, Texas–Mexico border region, between 2008 and 2011. Subjects: 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.