An Exploration of Psychosocial Determinants of Obesity among Hispanic Women

Abstract

Obesity,a major public health problem among U.S. Hispanic women,has a psychosocial cultural context,which we explore through quantitative and qualitative methods. We examine,e.g. paid and unpaid work,cultural and familial dynamics,and their relation to eating habits,BMI and general well-being. Twenty-three Hispanic mothers mainly born in Mexico participated. Over half were obese and had less than 8 years of schooling. Multivariate predictors of BMI were “unrewarding” meal-related family behaviors and negative attributes of the children. Language discrepancy (Spanish predominance for the mother,but English spoken in the home) was sharpest among those with lowest SES, and was significantly correlated with unrewarding meal-related behaviors,poor self-assessed health,and borderline significantly with BMI. Low SES,social isolation and heavy burden of preparing meals,were inter-correlated and each directly associated with low self-esteem and indirectly, with obesity.