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Summary Introduction As Mexican immigrants to the U.S. become acculturated, they face worsening health outcomes such as obesity. The role of language acculturation in the development of obesity has not been thoroughly examined. Methods To examine associations between language acculturation and obesity, data were drawn from the Mexican–American Mano A Mano cohort study. Participants aged 20 years and over (n = 18,298) completed baseline questionnaires on socio-demographic and behavioural factors, including physical activity and sitting time. The Bi-dimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics assessed language acculturation. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression was conducted to investigate associations between language acculturation, immigration age, and obesity, and whether sitting time and physical activity mediated these associations. Results Individuals with obesity were more linguistically acculturated than individuals who were normal weight or overweight ( P < 0.001); however, this relationship differed by gender and nativity. Among Mexico-born women, language acculturation score was inversely related to BMI ( P < 0.001). Language acculturation was associated with higher risk of obesity (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12–1.62) in U.S.-born participants and lower risk in Mexico-born participants (OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.81–1.00). For Mexico-born participants, arrival in the U.S. as an adult (≥20 years old) was associated with a reduced obesity risk (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67–0.80). Sitting time mediated the association between language acculturation and obesity. Conclusions Language acculturation may influence obesity development among the U.S.-born Mexican Americans in this cohort, but not their Mexico-born counterparts. Sitting time could be targeted in obesity prevention efforts in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexican-origin adolescents have a high prevalence of obesity. Research is needed to understand how family context may shape adolescent BMI. This study examined longitudinal associations of family functioning variables with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's modified BMI z-score (BMIaz) in 1175 Mexican-origin adolescents, and explored interactions with acculturation. Adolescents (50% female, aged 11-13 y in 2005-06) were identified from an ongoing cohort study of Mexican-origin adults in Houston, TX, and were assessed three times from 2005-06 to 2010-11. In multivariate linear mixed models stratified by gender, we assessed longitudinal associations of family cohesion and family conflict with adolescent BMIaz and explored interactions with language acculturation. We disaggregated the between- (mean) and within-person (individual deviation) components of family cohesion and family conflict to assess the effects on BMIaz. Approximately one-third of adolescents were obese at baseline, and BMIaz declined during the study. In girls, higher mean family cohesion and conflict were associated with steeper declines in BMIaz. Parental linguistic acculturation modified the relationship between within-person deviation in family cohesion and BMIaz in girls, such that high parental U.S. acculturation was associated with a stronger inverse association. There were no significant associations in boys. These findings highlight the potential importance of the family context to female adolescent BMI and the promise of addressing family context in obesity-related interventions., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women. Certain dietary factors have been associated with the risk of breast cancer recurrence, but data in Hispanic survivors is scarce., Objective: to examine dietary patterns and diet quality in two groups of Hispanic breast cancer survivors., Methods: 23 Mexican-American (MA) and 22 Puerto Rican (PR) female breast cancer survivors completed a culturally adapted validated food frequency questionnaire. Intake was standardized per 1000 kcal and compared to US Dietary Guidelines and the DASH-style diet adherence score was calculated., Results: Overweight/obese was 70 % in MA and 91 % in PR. PR consumed diets rich in fruit/100 % fruit juices and beans, while MA diets were high in vegetables, beans, and total grains. Both groups consumed high amounts of starchy vegetables, refined grains, animal protein and calories from solid fats and added sugars but low intakes of whole grains, dairy products and nuts and seeds. DASH scores were relatively low., Conclusion: MA and PR female breast cancer survivors have different dietary patterns but both groups had relatively low diet quality. These groups could benefit from culturally tailored interventions to improve diet quality, which could potentially reduce cancer recurrence. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01504789.