Correlates Of Overweight And Obesity In A Hispanic Community Sample

There is a dearth of literature regarding culturally- and theoretically-based constructs related to weight control in Hispanic populations. Aims of this study included observing culturally and theoretically based correlates of weight and waist circumference in an overweight / obese Hispanic sample. Data were collected from 232 participants at a local health care clinic. Measures included demographics, cultural constructs, and theoretical constructs from Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Participants completed paper and pencil measures in English or Spanish and had height, weight, and waist circumference measured. Inferential analyses used hierarchical regression models to predict weight and waist circumference. The final steps in each model assessed which culturally- or theoretically- based constructs were significantly associated with weight and waist circumference. Inferential findings suggest no association between weight variables and cultural constructs, while lower weight was associated with greater SDT perceived competence for diet and exercise (β = -.176, p = .054; β = -.202, p = .040), TTM reduced pros of weight loss (β = .246, p = .007), greater TTM environmental reevaluation (β = -.254, p = .009) and TTM stimulus control (β = -.200, p = .054), and reduced TTM helping relationships (β = .234, p = .005), and TTM social liberation (β = .226, p = .019). Additionally, lower waist circumference was associated with the maintenance stage of change for weight (β = -.304, p = .028) for exercise. Implications include a strong need for future research and treatment of overweight and obesity and the further exploration of the TTM model and SDT perceived competence as they relate to reductions in overweight and obesity within Hispanic populations