Acculturation and disordered eating patterns among Mexican American women

OBJECTIVE: This quantitative study examined the relationship between acculturation and disordered eating patterns among different generations of Mexican American women. METHOD: Participants included 139 Mexican American women (mean age = 29.1) drawn from local undergraduate courses and community agencies. The posttest-only design included a demographic measure, Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans (ARSMA), and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). RESULTS: Of the five generations studied, second-generation women endorsed the most disordered eating patterns and the highest degrees of concurrent acculturation. Moreover, there was a significant, positive correlation between acculturation and Factor III of the EAT which highlights control of eating and perceived pressure from others to gain weight. Participants scoring beyond the EAT cut-off score endorsed bulimic symptoms. DISCUSSION: Differing intergenerational ideals regarding weight may create special strains for second-generation Mexican American women. Criteria for disordered eating in a population previously not considered at risk should be further assessed and clinicians should be careful not to underdiagnose among this group.     

Dietary intakes and socioeconomic factors are associated with the hemoglobin concentration of Bangladeshi women

Iron deficiency anemia affects a large number of women in developing countries, especially during child-bearing years. The hemoglobin concentration is useful for identifying iron deficiency anemia. The main objectives of this study were, first, to extend algorithms for calculating bioavailable iron from mixed diets, taking into account the enhancers and inhibitors of iron absorption under alternative assumptions on body iron stores. Second, a comprehensive longitudinal model was developed for the proximate determinants of hemoglobin concentration that included the subjects' dietary intakes, nutritional status, morbidity and socioeconomic factors and the unobserved between-subject differences. The model for hemoglobin concentration was estimated using three repeated observations on 514 free living women in Bangladesh. Socioeconomic factors affecting the iron intake from meat, fish and poultry and from all animal sources were also modeled. The main results were that bioavailable iron, women's height and mid upper arm circumference and intake of iron tablets were significant predictors of hemoglobin concentration. Increases in household incomes were associated with higher intake of iron from meat, fish and poultry and from all animal sources. The algorithms for estimating bioavailable iron showed the importance of assumptions regarding body iron stores and underscored the need to develop suitable algorithms for subjects in developing countries.     

Attitudes toward menopause among Mexican American women

An exploratory study was conducted to determine Mexican American women's attitudes toward menopause and the relationships between these attitudes and socioeconomic status, level of acculturation, meno‐pausal status, symptoms, self‐esteem, and social support. The sample included 130 Mexican American women who ranged in age from 28 to 75 years. Attitudes did not differ by socioeconomic status, menopausal status, or number and severity of symptoms. More positive attitudes were reported by less acculturated women and women with higher self‐esteem. Menopause was perceived as a potentially disturbing transition, and irritability and depressive mood were expected. Findings support the need for more accessible information to decrease uncertainty and avert negative expectations.     

Phthalate exposure associated with self-reported diabetes among Mexican women

Background

Phthalates are ubiquitous industrial chemicals used as plasticizers in plastics made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to confer flexibility and durability. They are also present in products used for personal-care, industry and in medical devices. Phthalates have been associated with several adverse health effects, and recently it has been proposed that exposure to phthalates, could have an effect on metabolic homeostasis. This exploratory cross-sectional study evaluated the possible association between phthalate exposure and self-reported diabetes among adult Mexican women.

Methods

As part of an on-going case-control study for breast cancer, only controls were selected, which constituted 221 healthy women matched by age (±5 years) and place of residence with the cases. Women with diabetes were identified by self-report. Urinary concentrations of nine phthalate metabolites were measured by online solid phase extraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography-isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Participants with diabetes had significantly higher concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) pththalate (DEHP) metabolites: mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) but lower levels of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) a metabolite of benzylbutyl phthalate, compared to participants without diabetes. A marginally significant positive associations with diabetes status were observed over tertiles with MEHHP (OR_{T3 vs. T1}=2.66; 95% CI: 0.97–7.33; p for trend=0.063) and MEOHP (OR_{T3 vs. T1}=2.27; 95% CI; 0.90–5.75; P for trend=0.079) even after adjusting for important confounders.

Conclusions

The results suggest that levels of some phthalates may play a role in the genesis of diabetes.     

Dietary nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance among middle-aged American women

BACKGROUND: Nutritional factors play a key role in normal dermatologic functioning. However, little is known about the effects of diet on skin-aging appearance. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the associations between nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance. DESIGN: Using data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we examined associations between nutrient intakes and skin aging in 4025 women (40-74 y). Nutrients were estimated from a 24-h recall. Clinical examinations of the skin were conducted by dermatologists. Skin-aging appearance was defined as having a wrinkled appearance, senile dryness, and skin atrophy. RESULTS: Higher vitamin C intakes were associated with a lower likelihood of a wrinkled appearance [odds ratio (OR) 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.96] and senile dryness (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87, 0.99). Higher linoleic acid intakes were associated with a lower likelihood of senile dryness (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.88) and skin atrophy (OR: 0.78; 95% CI 0.65, 0.95). A 17-g increase in fat and a 50-g increase in carbohydrate intakes increased the likelihood of a wrinkled appearance (OR: 1.28 and 1.36, respectively) and skin atrophy (OR: 1.37 and 1.33, respectively). These associations were independent of age, race, education, sunlight exposure, income, menopausal status, body mass index, supplement use, physical activity, and energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: Higher intakes of vitamin C and linoleic acid and lower intakes of fats and carbohydrates are associated with better skin-aging appearance. Promoting healthy dietary behaviors may have additional benefit for skin appearance in addition to other health outcomes in the population.     

Higher amounts of body fat are associated with inadequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D in African American women

Calcium and vitamin D are associated with obesity. We hypothesized that African American women with higher calcium and vitamin D intakes would have lower body fat compared with women with lower calcium and vitamin D intakes. This cross-sectional study included 100 premenopausal African American women aged 18 to 40 years with a spectrum of body mass indices (17.3-46.7 kg/m²). Dietary information was obtained using 24-h recalls. Total body fat was determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and reported as percentage body fat (%BF). Subjects' data were divided into 2 groups (n = 50 per group) based on the median quartile of %BF, and differences were determined using independent t tests. Women with at least 37.9%BF had mean calcium (mg per day ± SD) and vitamin D intakes (µg per day ± SD) of 528.6 ± 146.0 and 3.8 ± .9, respectively. In comparison, women with lower %BF (<37.9%) had higher (P < .001) calcium and vitamin D intakes of 911.5 ± 208.3 and 5.0 ± 0.8, respectively. Partial correlation coefficients (controlling for the confounding variables of fat, carbohydrate, and protein intakes) indicated significant (P < 0.001) inverse associations between calcium intake and %BF (r = −.666), and vitamin D and %BF (r = −.460) in the 100 women. In conclusion, women with lower intakes of calcium and vitamin D were more likely to exhibit excessive adiposity compared with women with higher intakes.     

Total alpha-tocopherol intakes are associated with serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in African American adults

African Americans in the southern United States have a high prevalence of chronic disease. Tocopherol intake and status have been associated with protection against several chronic diseases. Our objectives were, therefore, to examine the association between tocopherol intakes as measured by 2 regional FFQ and their corresponding concentrations in serum and to report on dietary sources of tocopherols in 404 men and women participating in the cross-sectional Diet and Physical Activity Sub-Study of the Jackson Heart Study. A large proportion (49% of men and 66% of women) reported dietary supplement use. Only 5.8% of men and 4.5% of women met the estimated average requirement (EAR) for vitamin E from foods alone, whereas 44.2% men and 49.2% women met it from foods and supplements. Total (diet + supplement) intake of alpha-tocopherol was associated with its corresponding measure in serum. Vitamin E supplement use, sex, serum cholesterol, education, and BMI, but not gamma-tocopherol intakes, were associated with serum gamma-tocopherol. For delta-tocopherol, associated variables included sex and serum cholesterol. The top food sources of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol were snack chips and the top food source of delta-tocopherol was margarine. Despite prevalent vitamin E supplement use, more than one-half of this population did not meet the EAR for alpha-tocopherol intake and very few met it from food alone. Supplement use was associated with higher alpha- but lower gamma-tocopherol concentration in serum. The possible health implications of this difference in relative tocopherol subtypes require further study.     

Factors associated with physical activity among Mexican women of childbearing age]

OBJECTIVE: To document the practice of light and heavy physical activities, especially sports and exercise, among women from 12 to 49 years old in Mexico, and to evaluate the association that that has with some sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: A sample of 2 367 women 12 to 49 years old living in Mexico in 1999 was studied through secondary analysis of data from Mexico's 1999 National Nutrition Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición). The Survey used a clustered stratified multistage sampling scheme, with a final sample of 21 000 homes in the entire country. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the time that the women spent on various forms of physical activity, with the activity measured on a scoring scale in terms of metabolic equivalents (METs). The dependent variables in the study were the time spent on heavy physical activities (those that require an energy expenditure of at least 5 METs/hour) and the time devoted to light or sedentary activities (such as sitting while on the job or elsewhere; watching television, a video, a movie, or a theater presentation; or sleeping). The independent variables were age, schooling, parity, region of the country, area of residence (urban or rural), socioeconomic level (measured through an index prepared based on housing conditions and household possessions), and marital status. The association between the independent variables and practicing sports was evaluated, and gross odds ratios (ORs) were calculated, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In order to identify the association between practicing sports and the independent variables a logistic regression model was used, adjusted for the effects of possible confounding variables. Adjustments were also made in the probability of a woman's being selected for the sample, using a weighting factor. In addition, adjustments were made to control for the design effect produced by the grouping of the observations in the sample, using the "svy" complex-samples routine of the Stata version 7.0 statistical analysis computer software. RESULTS: The 2 367 women whose information was analyzed spent an average of 0.08 hours per day practicing sports and 1.25 hours per day on heavy physical activities. Only 16% of the women reported that they regularly practiced some sport. After adjusting for all the independent variables, the women older than 30 years had a lower OR of practicing sports in comparison to women who were 20 years of age or less (OR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.84), as was also true for women 21-30 years old (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.54). Having the highest level of schooling and not having had children were both directly associated with practicing a sport. While the area of residence (urban or rural), marital status, and socioeconomic level showed differences among the groups, such differences were not significant after adjusting for the other study variables. In terms of physical activity measured in METs, the time spent on sports made up 10% of the total for heavy activity and 0.7% of the overall total. In terms of the possibility of being among the 10% of the women who expended the fewest METs per day, that was more likely for women under 21 years of age than it was for women 31 or older, and it was also more likely for women who had a primary level of schooling than for women with a secondary education. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that practicing sports is not a frequent form of physical activity among women of childbearing age in Mexico, especially those who are over 20 years of age and those with a low level of schooling. This situation could contribute to increases in the prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases.     

Dietary and reproductive factors associated with benign breast disease in Mexican women

Benign breast disease (BBD) is common in women in the reproductive age group. The results of epidemiological studies that have examined the relationship between diet and BBD are controversial and scarce. The aim of the present study was to identify and evaluate the impact of dietary and reproductive risk factors in the development of BBD in Mexican women. Between 1994 and 1996, 121 women with BBD and 121 age-matched (+/- 3 yr) clinical controls with non-breast-related diseases were identified. The study population was directly interviewed about their reproductive history, and a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain dietary information. The population was originally identified as part of a hospital-based case-control study examining exposure to 1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane and breast cancer. A significant reduction in the risk of BBD was observed when comparing the upper with the lower tertiles of consumption of citrus fruit [odds ratio (OR) = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.21-0.88], non-citrus fruit (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.16-0.76), diary products (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.18-0.75), and food sources of lignans (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.24-0.98). A marginally significant reduction in the risk of BBD associated with the consumption of vitamin B-12 (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.23-1.02) was also observed. Our results add new information about the role of diet in the etiology of BBD.     

Prevalence and predictors of physical partner abuse among Mexican American women

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the lifetime prevalence of physical abuse by a current partner among women of Mexican origin and assessed factors associated with abuse. METHODS: Data are for a subsample of 1155 women with current partners from a larger population-based cross-sectional survey of US residents of Mexican origin. RESULTS: The self-reported prevalence of physical abuse by a current partner was 10.7%. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with physical abuse included US birthplace (odds ratio = 2.1; 95% confidence interval = 1.24, 3.56), young age, urban residence, and having 4 or more children. Social support and regular church attendance were protective. CONCLUSIONS: The self-reported prevalence of physical abuse among Mexican American women is high. US birth is associated with increased risk of abuse. Community-based prevention efforts should be aimed at this population.     

Factors associated with work-family conflict stress among African American women

Job demands and workplace culture variables associated with work-family conflict stress, in addition to workplace racial bias, were examined for a national sample of 607 African American women in 16 Fortune 1000 companies. Similar to other studies, women in this sample who had dependents were younger, had supervisory responsibilities, and experienced a less positive workplace culture, and those in professional job positions with high job demand were most likely to experience work-family stress. Married women who experienced a more subtle form of workplace racial bias reported more work-family conflict stress. Implications for social work policy, practice, and research are considered.     

Socioeconomic factors, immigration status, and cancer screening among Mexican American women aged 75 and older

To explore the association between socioeconomic factors and acculturation with cancer screening methods, we analyzed data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly, on 1,272 women aged 75 and older residing in the United States in 2004-2005. We found that lower Pap smear or mammography uses were associated with older age, lower education, and having public health insurance compared with private. Other factors associated with mammography use were depressive symptoms, cognition, and functional limitations. In sum, socioeconomic factors and health insurance coverage, but not acculturation, determine cancer screening utilization in very old Mexican American women.     

Mexican American women aging with childhood-onset paralytic polio

In this study the life histories of 11 Latinas of Mexican American descent aging with permanent impairment related to childhood-onset paralytic polio were explored. These women, age 45 to 62 years, were interviewed 3 times each. Field notes, audiotaped interviews, life course charts, and demographic data were used to collect data chronicling childhood to present day. In the results we present a thematic representation of the societal and cultural influences on the life course trajectories of these women.     

Ethnicity and race influence the folate status response to controlled folate intakes in young women

Population-based studies report differences in folate status indicators among Mexican American (MA), African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) women. It is unclear, however, whether these differences are due to variations in dietary folate intake. The present study was designed to investigate the influence of ethnicity/race on folate status parameters in MA, AA, and CA women (18-45 y; n = 14 in each group) under conditions of strictly controlled folate intake. In addition, the adequacy of the 1998 folate U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA), 400 micro g/d as dietary folate equivalents (DFE), for non-Caucasian women was assessed. Subjects (n = 42) with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 CC genotype consumed a low-folate diet (135 micro g DFE/d) for 7 wk followed by repletion with 400 (7 MA, 7 AA, 7 CA) or 800 micro g DFE/d (7 MA, 7 AA, 7 CA) for 7 wk. AA women had lower (P 相似文献   

Acculturation and changes in the likelihood of pregnancy and feelings about pregnancy among women of Mexican origin

This study explored the changes that occur with acculturation in the likelihood that women of Mexican origin in the United States get pregnant, that they considered their pregnancies intended, and that they were happy about their pregnancies. Data were from 924 women of Mexican origin in the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. Results showed that, controlling for underlying differences in age and parity, Mexican-origin women born in the United States were less likely to conceive a pregnancy than first-generation immigrants (O.R. = 0.69, C.I. 0.56-0.83), but the pregnancies they conceived were less likely to be intended (O.R. = 0.53, C.I. 0.35-0.79), and they were less likely to be happy about them (O.R. = 0.76, C.I. 0.57-1.01). These changes were associated with the decreases in marriage, poverty, and Catholic religiosity that occurred between first-generation immigrants and women of later generations. Findings highlight the unmet need for effective family planning among women of all generations of migration, but particularly those born in the United States.     

Risk and presence of food insufficiency are associated with low nutrient intakes and multimorbidity among homebound older women who receive home-delivered meals

This study examined the independent association of food sufficiency status with lowest nutrient intakes and multimorbidity among homebound older women who received home-delivered meals. Baseline data from the Nutrition and Function Study were used to identify three categories of food sufficiency status [food sufficient (FS), risk of food insufficiency (RFI) and food insufficient (FI)], calculate summary measures of musculoskeletal (calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and phosphorus) and overall nutrient intakes, and examine, using multivariable logistic regression models, the association of food sufficiency status with nutrition and health outcomes among 279 women who received regular home-delivered meals service (5 weekday meals/wk) and completed an in-home assessment and three 24-h dietary recalls. Independent of income and other variables, the adjusted odds for reporting lowest intakes in individual and multiple nutrients (> or = 2 musculoskeletal and > or = 5 overall) were significantly greater among women who reported RFI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.96 to 2.91] and FI (OR = 2.85 to 5.21). In addition, FI women were more likely to report a burden of multimorbidity (OR = 3.69). Considering the importance of home-delivered meals as a primary source of food assistance to homebound older women, the results of this study suggest the need to reevaluate the traditional model of home-delivered meals and to include measures of food sufficiency status as an integral component of program assessment and evaluation for the targeting and monitoring of new, innovative and cost-effective strategies to alleviate risk and the presence of food insufficiency.     

Dietary monoglutamate and polyglutamate folate are associated with plasma folate concentrations in Dutch men and women aged 20-65 years

Dietary folate consists of monoglutamate and polyglutamate folate species. In the small intestine, folate polyglutamate is deconjugated to the monoglutamate form before absorption takes place. This enzymatic deconjugation might limit the bioavailability of polyglutamate folate. Until now, no data have been available on dietary intake of both folate forms and their associations with folate status. Therefore, we estimated the intake of monoglutamate and polyglutamate folate in the Dutch population and studied whether the association with plasma folate is different for these two folate forms. Dietary intake of monoglutamate and polyglutamate folate from nonfortified foods was estimated for 2435 subjects (1275 men; 1160 women) aged 20-65 y. The intake of monoglutamate folate was about one third of total folate intake, derived mainly from bread (approximately 20%) and meat (approximately 18%), whereas two thirds consisted of polyglutamates, derived mainly from vegetables (approximately 25%). The predictive power of the regression model with total folate intake as the independent variable adjusted for age, smoking and alcohol intake, did not increase when including the ratio of monoglutamate to polyglutamate folate intake. In addition, linear regression models showed that both monoglutamate and polyglutamate folate intake were associated positively with plasma folate levels. However, in men, the monoglutamate folate form appeared to be a threefold stronger determinant of plasma folate levels than polyglutamate folate, whereas in women, both folate forms were equally strong determinants. This might be explained by different food intake patterns of men and women, including alcohol intake. At present, it does not seem necessary to distinguish between food folate forms in advising an increase in folate intake from nonfortified foods.