scholarly journals The Starr County Border Health Initiative: Focus Groups on Diabetes Prevention in Mexican Americans

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon A. Brown ◽  
William B. Perkison ◽  
Alexandra A. García ◽  
Heather E. Cuevas ◽  
Mary M. Velasquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Diabetes Prevention ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Mexico Border

Purpose The purpose of the study was to conduct focus groups with Mexican Americans in an impoverished rural community on the Texas-Mexico border to identify current barriers to adopting healthier lifestyles and to obtain recommendations for diabetes prevention. Methods Three separate 2-hour focus groups were led by an experienced bilingual Mexican American moderator. Interviews included questions about cultural factors and barriers that influence lifestyle behaviors, aspects of previous diabetes self-management interventions that were helpful for motivating behavioral change, and recommendations for diabetes prevention. Results Twenty-seven participants attended a focus group session; each session involved 7 to 12 informants. Individuals were diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus; most were female, foreign born, and Spanish speaking. Interviews documented the cultural importance of food. Informants raised priority issues for diabetes prevention, including the need to learn how to prepare healthier foods and track caloric intake. Major barriers to healthier lifestyles included high costs of healthy foods, fatigue from busy schedules and working multiple jobs, a cultural view that exercise is a waste of valuable time, and fear of deportation. Conclusions Cultural influences and barriers to implementing healthy lifestyles should be assessed regularly and strategies implemented to overcome them. Such factors may change as environmental, sociocultural, and political environments change.

English Skills, Earnings, and the Occupational Sorting of Mexican Americans along the U.S.-Mexico Border

2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Dávila ◽  
Marie T. Mora
Keyword(s):  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Mexican Immigrants ◽  
Labor Market Outcomes ◽  
Minority Language ◽  
Market Outcomes ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Language Region ◽  
Occupational Sorting ◽  
The U.S

While English proficiency enhances labor market outcomes, its role in minority-language regions remains largely unexplored. Employing the U.S.-Mexico border as a minority-language region, we analyze whether English skills differently affect the earnings and occupational sorting of Mexican Americans along the border relative to their non-border peers. We find comparable English deficiency earnings penalties for Mexican immigrants, suggesting that this group responds to English-specific regional wage gaps. U.S.-born men, however, have a larger earnings penalty along the border, possibly reflecting natives’ relative immobility owing to strong geographic preferences. Occupational sorting exercises give credence to this interpretation for native Mexican American females.

scholarly journals A Metabolomic Analysis of the Sex-Dependent Hispanic Paradox

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 552
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Patterson ◽  
Xiaojian Shi ◽  
William Bresette ◽  
Ryan Eghlimi ◽  
Sarah Atlas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Hispanic Paradox ◽  
Metabolomic Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Tyrosine Metabolism ◽  
Metabolic Conditions ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

In Mexican Americans, metabolic conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), are not necessarily associated with an increase in mortality; this is the so-called Hispanic paradox. In this cross-sectional analysis, we used a metabolomic analysis to look at the mechanisms behind the Hispanic paradox. To do this, we examined dietary intake and body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) in men and women and their effects on serum metabolomic fingerprints in 70 Mexican Americans (26 men, 44 women). Although having different BMI values, the participants had many similar anthropometric and biochemical parameters, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, which supported the paradox in these subjects. Plasma metabolomic phenotypes were measured using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A two-way ANOVA assessing sex, BMI, and the metabolome revealed 23 significant metabolites, such as 2-pyrrolidinone (p = 0.007), TMAO (p = 0.014), 2-aminoadipic acid (p = 0.019), and kynurenine (p = 0.032). Pathway and enrichment analyses discovered several significant metabolic pathways between men and women, including lysine degradation, tyrosine metabolism, and branch-chained amino acid (BCAA) degradation and biosynthesis. A log-transformed OPLS-DA model was employed and demonstrated a difference due to BMI in the metabolomes of both sexes. When stratified for caloric intake (<2200 kcal/d vs. >2200 kcal/d), a separate OPLS-DA model showed clear separation in men, while females remained relatively unchanged. After accounting for caloric intake and BMI status, the female metabolome showed substantial resistance to alteration. Therefore, we provide a better understanding of the Mexican-American metabolome, which may help demonstrate how this population—particularly women—possesses a longer life expectancy despite several comorbidities, and reveal the underlying mechanisms of the Hispanic paradox.

scholarly journals Cross-national Comparison Examining Breastfeeding and Child Malnutrition Among Mexicans (P11-106-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paola Campos ◽  
Summer Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
National Health ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Child Malnutrition ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Child Overweight ◽  
American Children

Abstract Objectives To examine the effects of breastfeeding duration and contextual factors at individual- and household-levels on child malnutrition, including overweight and stunting, in Mexican and Mexican-American children aged 3–35 months. Methods Secondary data analysis of 2,311 Mexican children from the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey and 829 Mexican-American children from the 2007–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using independent and pooled logistic regression models to examine bivariate and multivariate associations. Results The prevalence of breastfeeding initiation and any breastfeeding for ≥ 3 months was higher in Mexican (94.2% and 83.5%) versus Mexican-American children (76.4% and 43.0%). Among the latter, those with foreign-born household reference person (HRP) were more likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding than US-born counterparts. The prevalence of child overweight did not differ in either population (9.0% in Mexicans versus 8.8% in Mexican-Americans), but among the latter, those with foreign-born HRP had higher prevalence for child overweight than US-born counterparts. The prevalence of child stunting was higher in Mexicans (11.6%) versus Mexican-Americans (2.0%) and no difference was found between children with foreign- or US-born HRP. We found no evidence for an association between any breastfeeding for ≥ 3 months and either measure of child malnutrition among Mexicans or Mexican-Americans when compared to those who were never breastfed. High- and low-birthweight were risk factors across the 2 populations for child overweight (AOR 2.72, 95% CI 1.81-4.08) and stunting (AOR 4.22, 95% CI 2.79-6.40), accordingly. We also identified additional country-specific risk and protective factors. Conclusions Culturally-sensitive interventions should focus on women prenatally using prophylactic strategies to prevent offspring high- and low-birthweight as these were risk factors for child malnutrition. These interventions should also include postnatal strategies to maintain and foster positive maternal health behaviors, including breastfeeding. Funding Sources No funding was received for this research. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

scholarly journals Prevalence and Trends in Morbidity and Disability Among Older Mexican Americans in the Southwestern United States, 1993–2013

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A. Garcia ◽  
Adriana M. Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Activity Of Daily Living ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Reduced Activity

This study examines the prevalence of morbidity and disability among older Mexican Americans using 5-year age groups. Twenty-year panel data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly are used to make detailed comparisons by nativity and gender. Results show that prevalence rates for most chronic conditions for both males and females do not vary by nativity. For disabilities, nativity is a significant predictor of increased instrumental activity of daily living disability for foreign-born females and reduced activity of daily living disability for U.S.-born males. Additionally, results show significant interactions between nativity and age cohorts, with the gap increasing with age for males and decreasing with age for females. These results have important implications for health services and health policy. Given the rapid aging of the Mexican American population, the prevention and treatment of medical conditions, particularly among the foreign-born, should be a major public health priority to reduce dependence from disabilities.

Development of the Exercise Motivation Questionnaire With Mexican American Adults

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Keele
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Construct Validation ◽  
Reversal Theory ◽  
Exercise Motivation ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Five Factors ◽  
Mexico Border

Prevalence of physical inactivity is the highest among Mexican Americans (40%) as compared to only 18% among Whites. The purpose of this study was to test a culturally relevant exercise motivation instrument with 269 Mexican Americans living along the southern New Mexico border area. Construct validation was supportive with items clustering into five factors consistent with reversal theory constructs explaining 54% of the variance. Further support was achieved with a positive correlation between the Exercise Motivation Questionnaire—Mexican American (EMQ-MA) and the Motives for Activity Participation Questionnaire (r = .10−.77) and with regular exercisers scoring higher on all subscales. Internal consistency values for the subscales ranged from .80 to .90. There is potential for developing individualized exercise interventions based on exercise motivation as measured by the EMQ-MA.

scholarly journals Social Determinants of Polypharmacy in First Generation Mexican Immigrants in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 86-90
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Mohammed Saqib ◽  
Cheryl Wisseh ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Mexican Immigrants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Foreign Born

Introduction: Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators are among the main social determinants of health and illness. Less, however, is known about the role of SES in the epidemiology of polypharmacy in immigrant Latino Americans living in the United States. This research studied the association between three SES indicators, education, income, and employment, and polypharmacy in older first generation Latino American immigrant adults. Methods: Data was obtained from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA, 1996-2008). A total of 632 older first generation Mexican-American immigrants to the U.S. entered this analysis. The independent variables were education, income, and employment. Polypharmacy was the outcome. Age, gender, physical health, smoking, and drinking were the covariates. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Employment was associated with lower odds of polypharmacy. The association between education and polypharmacy was above and beyond demographic factors, physical health, health behaviors, and health insurance. Neither education nor income were associated with polypharmacy. Other determinants of polypharmacy were poor self-rated health (SRH) and a higher number of chronic medical conditions (CMCs). Conclusion: Employment appears to be the major SES determinant of polypharmacy in older foreign-born Mexican Americans. Unemployed older Mexican American immigrants with multiple chronic diseases and those who have poor SRH have the highest need for an evaluation of polypharmacy. Given the age group of this population, most of them have health insurance, which provides an opportunity for reducing their polypharmacy.

scholarly journals Metabolic Health Has Greater Impact on Diabetes than Simple Overweight/Obesity in Mexican Americans

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenghui Wu ◽  
Susan P. Fisher-Hoch ◽  
Belinda Reninger ◽  
Kristina Vatcheva ◽  
Joseph B. McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Metabolic Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Control Of Diabetes ◽  
Metabolically Healthy ◽  
Obese Phenotype ◽  
And Control

Purpose. To compare the risk for diabetes in each of 4 categories of metabolic health and BMI.Methods. Participants were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, a randomly selected Mexican American cohort in Texas on the US-Mexico border. Subjects were divided into 4 phenotypes according to metabolic health and BMI: metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically healthy overweight/obese, metabolically unhealthy normal weight, and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese. Metabolic health was defined as having less than 2 metabolic abnormalities. Overweight/obese status was assessed by BMI higher than 25 kg/m2. Diabetes was defined by the 2010 ADA definition or by being on a diabetic medication.Results. The odds ratio for diabetes risk was 2.25 in the metabolically healthy overweight/obese phenotype (95% CI 1.34, 3.79), 3.78 (1.57, 9.09) in the metabolically unhealthy normal weight phenotype, and 5.39 (3.16, 9.20) in metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese phenotype after adjusting for confounding factors compared with the metabolically healthy normal weight phenotype.Conclusions. Metabolic health had a greater effect on the increased risk for diabetes than overweight/obesity. Greater focus on metabolic health might be a more effective target for prevention and control of diabetes than emphasis on weight loss alone.

Using Focus Groups to Plan and Evaluate Diabetes Self-Management Interventions for Mexican Americans

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Benavides-Vaello ◽  
Alexandra A. Garcia ◽  
Sharon A. Brown ◽  
Maria Winchell
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Interventions

scholarly journals Adiponectin/leptin ratio and Metabolic Syndrome in a Mexican American population

2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaper Mirza ◽  
Hui-Qi Qu ◽  
Quan Li ◽  
Perla J Martinez ◽  
Anne R Rentfro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Circulating Levels

Objective: Adiponectin and leptin play critical roles in the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). This study was designed to assess the feasibility of using circulating levels of adiponectin and leptin for the early diagnosis of MetS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using data from 367 participants randomly selected from a well-characterized cohort of Mexican-Americans living at the US-Mexico border. Results: Significant differences in circulating levels of adiponectin and leptin were observed between males and females. Adiponectin/leptin correlated significantly with MetS in this population. A receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that adiponectin/leptin showed a high sensitivity (70.9% for males, 78.9% for females) and specificity (90.2% for males and 69.8% for females) for the diagnosis of MetS, independent of BMI measurements. Conclusion: These data support the central role of adiponectin and leptin in MetS, and demonstrated that adiponectin/leptin can be used as a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for MetS.

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