Obesity Epidemic and Related Risk behaviors among Hispanics

Obesity Epidemic and Related Risk behaviors among Hispanics in Florida, 2002 Youjie Huang, MD, Dr. PH Zhaohui Fan, MPH Marie Bailey, MSW Bureau of Epidemiology Department of Health

Background n n Obesity epidemic has been documented in Florida and nationwide. 2. 7 million Floridians are Hispanics, representing 17% of Florida population n Cuban Americans (31%), Puerto Rican Americans (18%) and Mexican Americans (14%) Little data are available on obesity among Hispanics in Florida conducted a large scale Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey in 2002, which allows analysis on overweight for Hispanic population

Data: 2002 Florida County BRFSS n n n A random telephone survey of adults Conducted during September 2002 through January 2003 Survey questions include n Demographics, weight and height, physical activity and diet, chronic diseases and quality of life, desire and practice of weight control. Total sample size: 34, 500 2, 164 adult Hispanics were surveyed

Analysis n n Hispanics only Definition of overweight: n n n Overweight: BMI is 25 or greater and less than 30; Obese: BMI is 30 and greater Regions: urban counties, southern rural counties (rural 1) and other rural counties (rural 2) Data are weighted to represent population-based prevalence Analyzed by age, sex, education and geographic region

Results n n 56% of Hispanics were overweight or obese More than one-third (37%) of Hispanics were overweight n n Similar to the rates among blacks (31. 9%) and among whites (35. 0%) 18. 6% of Hispanics were obese n n comparable to the rate among whites (21. 4%) less than the rate among blacks (34. 8%)

Prevalence of Overweight and Obese among Hispanics, FL, 2002

Prevalence of Being Sedentary Among Hispanics, FL, 2002

Prevalence of Being Physically Inactive at Work Among Hispanics, FL, 2002

Prevalence of Having No Regular Moderate Physical Activity Among Hispanics, FL, 2002

Prevalence of Consuming Less than Five Servings of Fruits and Vegetables a Day Among Hispanics, FL, 2002

Prevalence of Being Sedentary Among Hispanics Who Are Overweight, FL, 2002

Prevalence of Having No Regular Moderate Physical Activity Among Hispanics Who Are Overweight, FL, 2002

Prevalence of Consuming Less than Five Servings of Fruits and Vegetables a Day Among Hispanics Who Are Overweight, FL, 2002

Summaries n n n Overweight and obesity is a serious health problem, and more than half of Hispanics in Florida are overweight. Among Hispanics, men, middle age people and people with high education tend to have high prevalence of overweight. Physical inactivity and unhealthy diet are prevalent among Hispanics.