Cultural Factors Underlying Obesity in Latino Men

描述(申请人提供)：超重和肥胖与某些类型的癌症有关，拉美裔/拉美裔美国人--美国最大的少数民族群体--受肥胖的影响不成比例。饮食、体力活动和身体形象是影响肥胖的三个因素。不幸的是，许多拉丁裔的饮食往往是不健康的，拉丁裔的体力活动水平较低，而且拉丁裔持有一种普遍的文化价值观，支持一定程度的超重--所有这些因素都可能增加肥胖率。尽管民族和种族在肥胖相关因素上的差异已经被研究，但很少有人进行研究来了解这些差异背后的因素。这类研究很重要，因为种族类别和表型特征表现出更多的组内差异，而不是组间差异。最近，在研究中用种族认同等概念变量取代种族这个词作为解释性概念也受到了重视，更多地强调了这一概念的文化方面。精通文化的研究强调文化对情感、思想和行为的作用，并鼓励积极的社区参与。这项研究的结果将有助于理解种族和文化在肥胖相关变量中的作用，并确定在为墨西哥人和波多黎各人制定肥胖干预措施时需要考虑的文化因素。这个项目将使PI能够申请未来的联邦研究资金。该项目的试点数据将用于为墨西哥和波多黎各男性开发和实施基于文化的社区参与式肥胖干预措施。未来的R01拨款申请将把文化适应、文化适应压力、种族认同和文化价值观的作用纳入墨西哥和波多黎各男性的饮食、身体活动和身体形象干预。因此，本次R21拨款申请的结果对于理解拉丁裔文化变量的独立和交互影响以及它们与肥胖相关因素的关系是必要的和关键的组成部分。 公共卫生相关性：这项研究很重要，因为它将有助于探索四个文化变量(文化适应、文化适应压力、种族认同和文化价值观)及其与超重墨西哥和波多黎各男性的饮食、体育活动和身体形象的关系。该项目的试点数据将用于为超重的墨西哥和波多黎各男性开发和实施基于文化的饮食、身体活动和身体形象干预，其中将纳入文化适应水平的作用以及与文化适应过程、种族认同和拉美文化价值观相关的压力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Overweight and obesity are linked to certain types of cancers and Hispanics/Latinos-the largest ethnic minority group in the United States-are disproportionately affected by obesity. Diet, physical activity, and body image are three factors that influence obesity. Unfortunately, the diets of many Latinos tend to be unhealthy, Latinos have low levels of physical activity, and Latinos hold a general cultural value favoring a degree of overweight-all factors that may increase rates of obesity. Although ethnic and racial differences in correlates of obesity have been examined, little research has been conducted to understand the factors that underlie these differences. This kind of research is important because racial categories and phenotypic characteristics exhibit more within-group than between-group variation. Recently, replacing the word 'race' as an explanatory construct in research with conceptual variables such as ethnic identity has also been emphasized, placing more emphasis on cultural aspects of this construct. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to explore the role of four cultural variables (acculturation, acculturative stress, ethnic identity, and cultural values) that may help to explain the ethnic disparities in correlates of obesity (diet, physical activity, and body image) among Mexican and Puerto Rican men. Specific aims are to: 1) Explore the role of acculturation in diet, physical activity, and body image in 176 adult Mexican and Puerto Rican men; 2) Explore the role of acculturative stress in diet, physical activity, and body image in Mexicans and Puerto Ricans; 3) Explore the role of ethnic identity in diet, physical activity, and body image in Mexicans and Puerto Ricans; 4) Explore the relationships between Latino cultural values and diet, physical activity, and body image; and 5) Identify logistical/practical considerations regarding the development of culturally proficient obesity interventions for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. The rationale for this study derives from the PEN-3 Model (Airhihenbuwa, 1995, as well as models on cultural proficiency and tailoring8,9, and community participatory research10,11. The PEN-3 theoretical model emphasizes culture as the central reason for health behavior and the primary consideration for health promotion programs. Culturally proficient research emphasizes the role of culture on affect, thoughts, and behaviors and encourages active community involvement. The findings from this study will aid in understanding the role of ethnicity and culture in obesity-related variables and identify cultural factors to consider when developing obesity interventions for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. This project will position the PI to apply for future federal research funding. Pilot data from this project will be used to develop and implement a culture-based, community participatory obesity intervention for Mexican and Puerto Rican men. The future R01 grant application will incorporate role of acculturation, acculturative stress, ethnic identity, and cultural values into a diet, physical activity, and body image intervention for Mexican and Puerto Rican men. Therefore, the findings from this present R21 grant application are a necessary and critical component to understanding the independent and interactive influences of Latino cultural variables and their relationship to correlates of obesity. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This research is important because it will enable the exploration of four cultural variables (acculturation, acculturative stress, ethnic identity, and cultural values) and their relationship to diet, physical activity, and body image in overweight Mexican and Puerto Rican men. Pilot data from this project will be used to develop and implement a culture-based diet, physical activity, and body image intervention for overweight Mexican and Puerto Rican men that will incorporate the role of acculturation level and the stress associated with the acculturation process, ethnic identity, and Latino cultural values.