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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ming-Chin Yeh, PhD, Nutrition and Food Science, Urban Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Hunter College, 425 E. 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, 212-481-4134, myeh@hunter.cuny.edu, Anahi Viladrich, PhD, School of Health Sciences, Urban Public Health Program, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 425 E 25th street, W 10021, New York, NY 10010, and Nancy Bruning, Urban Public Health Program, Hunter College, 250 Cabrini Blvd. # 9G, New York, NY 10033.

Background: Obesity and overweight have experienced substantial increases in the past few decades and have reached an epidemic proportion in the US. Hispanic-American women, or Latinas, in particular present higher rates of obesity than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Researchers have proposed various explanations for such disparities, including factors such as dietary and physical activity patterns. However, certain protective factors appear to change through acculturation, which may be briefly defined as the process of acquiring and adapting to new cultural information, including changing attitudes and behaviors towards dietary habits and physical activity. In this paper, we review the existing literature on acculturation as it relates to obesity and health behaviors that are associated with increased risk of obesity among US Latinas. Methods: Articles published from 1985 through January 2006 were located using scientific online databases. Databases used were Medline, PsychInfo, and Social Sciences Abstracts. Keywords used were immigrant, Latino, Hispanic, women, ethnic, culture, acculturation, assimilation, selective acculturation, obesity, weight, overweight, nutrition, diet, physical activity, exercise, and health. Findings: A conceptual framework is proposed to examine factors contributing to obesity through “selective acculturation.” This concept challenges traditionally-held unilateral assumptions that underscore Latinas' unhealthy behavioral patterns, by explaining a process whereby Latinas both keep and acquire healthy behaviors once they settle in a new culture. With selective acculturation as a fresh focus, we propose recommendations for future research, practice, and policy decisions.

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