Dietary Intake, Physical activity and Overweight and Obesity in Mexican American Adolescents

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dietary intake, physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of Mexican American (MA) adolescents. We conducted a period cross‐sectional analysis with 130 MA adolescents aged 12–17 y. Dietary intake was collected from three 24‐hour dietary recalls throughout one year. Anthropometrics and demographics were assessed at home visit. Overall, 39 of the boys (62.9%) and 41 of the girls (60.3%) were overweight/obese. PA levels were not significantly different across BMI categories. Obese adolescents consumed fewer carbohydrates and grains, and had higher energy density from protein than healthy weight adolescents, after adjustment for gender, energy intake and PA. Using logistic regression models, we report that higher risk of overweight/obesity was associated with nativity (U.S. born versus Mexico) in boys (odds ratio [OR] = 6.81; 95% CI: 1.21, 38.20) and higher consumption of dietary fiber in girls (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.49); lower risk was associated with higher energy density of carbohydrate in boys (OR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.99). In conclusion, nativity was a positive predictor and higher energy density of carbohydrate was a negative predictor of overweight/obesity in boys; whereas higher intake of dietary fiber was a risk factor in girls. Our findings indicate that preventive interventions in MA need to be tailored by gender.Grant Funding Source : NCI CA105203