Eating and exercise behaviors and attitudes of southwestern anglos and Hispanics

Abstract

In order to investigate cultural differences in attitudes and behaviors related to eating, exercise and weight, we gave an anonymous questionnaire to 328 Southwestern adults, 42% of whom were Hispanic. The Hispanics tended to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than the Anglos, reflecting a greater weight gain since age 20; similarly, males showed a greater BMI and weight gain than females. Anglos indicated that they exercised more than Hispanics, believed more in the ability to control one's weight through exercise and other means, believed more that thinner people have lower blood pressure, felt less that Americans are too concerned about weight, knew more about weight control and cared somewhat more about nutrition than did Hispanics. Women were somewhat more likely than men to eat in the presence of many antecedent cues and more likely to provide consequences for their eating behaviors. People who were older were likely to show more healthful scores on several measures of eating behaviors, less knowledge about weight control, less concern about nutrition, less confidence that obesity can be controlled, and more concern about its consequences. The results suggest that cultural and gender differences in attitudes and behaviors may have implications for obesity.