Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Obesity among Latinos: A Novel Approach to Reducing Health Disparities

background: Latinos bear a disproportionate burden of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases. Novel approaches are needed to reduce the disparities of obesity among Latinos. Perceived social cohesion, a neighborhood level factor associated with positive self-rated health and health behaviors, is an understudied topic in obesity. This study will also assess whether physical activity helps explain this relationship.

methods: Data were analyzed from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a random-digit dial cross-sectional survey, representative of the California adult population. The sample was restricted to adults who completed the social cohesion module and reported being Latino/Hispanic (N=4,461). Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between social cohesion, measured by a 16-point scale, and obesity. Models will be developed to measure the mediating role of physical activity.

results: 23.7% of the sample was obese. After controlling for age, gender and education, results suggest lower odds of being obese with a 1-unit increase in social cohesion (OR= 0.94; p-value= 0.04). Social cohesion is also positively associated with higher odds of physical activity (OR= 1.13; p-value= 0.001). Analyses will be expanded by building models that test physical activity as a potential mediator explaining the relationship between social cohesion and obesity.

conclusion: Future obesity prevention efforts among Latinos may be more effective by focusing on public health and community level policies and programs that include strategies to improve levels of social cohesion. An individual’s perception of neighborhood social cohesion may increase levels of physical activity, which may in turn decrease their obesity risk.