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Acculturation and Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in Young Mexican and Mexican–American Women

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Abstract

Little is known about effects of acculturation on disease risk in young Mexican and Mexican–American women living in a border community. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between acculturation and features of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Mexican and Mexican–American women (n = 60) living in the largest US-Mexico border community. Acculturation was measured by the short acculturation scale for Hispanics and birthplace. Body composition was measured by Bod Pod and daily physical activity was measured by questionnaire and accelerometer. Increased acculturation was related to individual features of MetS and increased risk of MetS. These relationships were mediated by fat mass rather than inactivity. Fat mass mediates the relationships between acculturation and individual features of MetS in young Mexican and Mexican–American women. These findings suggest that fat mass, rather than inactivity, is an important contributor to disease risk in young Mexican and Mexican–American women living in a large US/Mexico border community.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the participants who took part in this study. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (Grant # P20 000548); A joint venture of The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. There authors report no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N Campbell, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA

    Chantal A. Vella, Diana Ontiveros & Raul Y. Zubia

  2. Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N Campbell, El Paso, TX, 79902, USA

    Julia O. Bader

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  1. Chantal A. Vella
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  2. Diana Ontiveros
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Correspondence to Chantal A. Vella.

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Vella, C.A., Ontiveros, D., Zubia, R.Y. et al. Acculturation and Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in Young Mexican and Mexican–American Women. J Immigrant Minority Health 13, 119–126 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-009-9299-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-009-9299-7

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