Assessing the Role of Health Behaviors, Socioeconomic Status, and Cumulative Stress for Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obesity
Date
2020
Authors
Cuevas, Adolfo
Chen, Ruijia
Slopen, Natalie
Thurber, Katherine
Wilson, Norbert
Economos, Christina
Williams, David R
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the explanatory role of health
behaviors, socioeconomic position (SEP), and psychosocial stressors on
racial/ethnic obesity disparities in a multiethnic and multiracial sample of
adults.
Methods: Using data from the Chicago Community Adult Health Study
(2001-2003), Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition analysis was conducted to
quantify the extent to which health behaviors (fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity), SEP, and cumulative stressors (e.g.,
perceived discrimination, financial strain) each explained differences
in obesity prevalence in Black, US-born Hispanic, and non-US-born
Hispanic compared with non-Hispanic White participants.
Results: SEP and health behaviors did not explain obesity differences
between racial/ethnic minorities and White individuals. Having high levels
of stress in four or more domains explained 4.46% of the differences between Black and White individuals, whereas having high levels of stress
in three domains significantly explained 14.13% of differences between
US-born Hispanic and White. Together, the predictors explained less than
20% of differences between any racial/ethnic minority group and White
individuals.
Conclusions: Exposure to stressors may play a role in obesity disparities, particularly among Black and US-born Hispanic individuals. Other
obesity-related risk factors need to be examined to understand the
underlying mechanisms explaining obesity disparities.
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Source
Obesity
Type
Journal article
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Restricted until
2037-12-31
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