Adolescent obesity in Latino immigrants: Influences of acculturation and gender on exercise behavior

Childhood obesity has become an urgent public health problem. California Latino adolescents are more overweight than other ethnic groups and are two times more likely not to engage in daily physical activity compared to Whites. Acculturation status has profound effects on a variety of health behaviors for Latinos. Research on the relationship of acculturation and exercise behavior for Latinos is limited, with most available studies indicating a negative relationship between acculturation status and exercise frequency. No study to date has examined such a relationship in Latino adolescents. A 2007 prospective study examined the effects of acculturation and gender on regular vigorous exercise among Latino high school adolescents. Multiple regression and general linear modeling were used to examine the effects of acculturation and gender on constructs of the theory of planned behavior as related to regular vigorous exercise. Results show significant gender and acculturation status differences. Latino males exercised more regularly, had stronger intentions, more positive attitudes, and greater perceived behavioral control for engaging in regular vigorous exercise than females. Males indicated that beliefs related to engaging in “structured exercise” were major contributors for exercise. The role of the mother as a normative referent was more influential for females. High acculturated adolescents reported more regular exercise compared to low acculturated youth, and also indicated access to equipment as important. Public Health implications include a need for planners to account for gender differences in cultural and familial responsibilities, unique to immigrant Latino adolescents, when developing community and school-based obesity prevention programs.