Awareness of Cardiovascular Disease and Preventive Behaviors Among Overweight Immigrant Latinas

Race/Ethnic and Sex Differences in the Association of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors

“…17 Koniak-Griffin et al randomized Hispanic women (N=90) to an intervention designed to improve knowledge of risk factors for CVD and skills to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors. 12 Despite a significant improvement in heart disease knowledge after the intervention, there was no significant association between knowledge scores and overall dietary habits, BMI, or physical activity. In our study, CVD risk factors as measured by a higher ASCVD risk predicted a lower odds of attempted weight loss and physical activity, but a higher odds of healthy diet.…”

“…So although we cannot definitively conclude that healthy behaviors were poorer in Hispanics and black women despite a higher “unknown” calculated risk score, our findings highlight that patients’ motivation for healthy behaviors may be based more on measured weight and self‐perception as overweight or obese. Indeed, prior studies in women have shown that increased knowledge and awareness of CVD risk factors does not necessarily translate into healthier lifestyle behaviors 11, 12. Thus, in the setting of a growing obesity epidemic, it is crucial that health professionals continue to educate patients about heathy BMI and body image to motivate engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors.…”

“…Similarly, Vähäsarja et al found that physical inactivity and obesity were associated with perceived need to change health behavior in 10 149 Finnish men and women, but that smoking, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were not associated with a need to change 17. Koniak‐Griffin et al randomized Hispanic women (N=90) to an intervention designed to improve knowledge of risk factors for CVD and skills to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors 12. Despite a significant improvement in heart disease knowledge after the intervention, there was no significant association between knowledge scores and overall dietary habits, BMI, or physical activity.…”

“…Indeed, prior studies in women have shown that increased knowledge and awareness of CVD risk factors does not necessarily translate into healthier lifestyle behaviors. 11,12 Thus, in the setting of a growing obesity epidemic, it is crucial that health professionals continue to educate patients about heathy BMI and body image to motivate engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors. Multiple prior studies have demonstrated that desired weight and weight self-perceptions vary by race/ethnicity and sex.…”

Relationship Between Negative Mood and Health Behaviors in an Immigrant and Refugee Population

“…Continued development of new interventions for high-risk minority groups [12, 13] encourages the expansion of research on interventions tailored to immigrant populations. Promising results show that culturally-relevant interventions to promote change in nutrition and physical activity behaviors yield successful outcomes for increased knowledge of illness risk, increased knowledge of national guidelines, and behavior change for children [14] and adults [15]. However, the association between mood and health behavior remains understudied for immigrant groups.…”