Associations between dysfunctional eating behaviors and cardiovascular risk among Latinos

Abstract

BackgroundLatinos bear high burden of nutrition‐related cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Dysfunctional eating behaviors including, emotional eating (EE), uncontrolled eating (UE) and cognitive restraint (CR) of eating could influence CVD risk factors but associations among these variables have been under‐researched.ObjectiveTo examine associations between dysfunctional eating behaviors and CVD risk factors among Latinos.MethodsLatino adults between the ages of 21–84 were recruited from primary care settings. Eating behaviors were assessed by the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire, CVD risk factors were assessed via self‐report (i.e., hypercholesterolemia) and medical chart review (i.e., diabetes), and anthropometrics (height, weight, waist circumference) and blood pressure were measured. Statistical analysis included binary logistic and Poisson regressions.ResultsA total of 568 participants (51.1% female, 66.7% Dominican) were included in this analysis. Controlling for age, sex and education, high EE, UE and CR were associated with greater odds of obesity (OR=1.82 (1.28, 2.57), OR=1.75 (1.23, 2.48), OR=2.18 (1.53, 3.11; respectively); high EE and CR were associated with diabetes (OR=1.57 (1.04, 2.38), OR=1.95 (1.28, 2.97); respectively); and high EE and UE were associated with hyperlipidemia (OR=1.83 (1.23, 2.73), OR=2.31 (1.54, 3.46); respectively). Lastly, high EE, UE and CR were significantly associated with greater risk of developing a greater number of CVD risk factors (IRR=1.26 (1.08, 1.46), IRR=1.29 (1.11, 1.49), IRR=1.27 (1.09, 1.48); respectively).ConclusionDysfunctional eating behaviors were associated with obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia in this Latino sample. Targeting dysfunctional eating behaviors may constitute an avenue for CVD risk factor prevention in this population. Further research is warranted to test whether reducing dysfunctional eating patterns impacts CVD risk factors among Latinos.Support or Funding InformationThis research is funded by: NIMH grant R01 MH085653; NIMHD grant 1 P60 MD006912‐02; and CDC grant U48 DP005031‐01.