142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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309226
Barriers and Facilitators to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Overweight Mexican-Origin Smokers

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Larkin L. Strong, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Diana W. Stewart, PhD , Health Disparities Research – Unit 1440, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Natalia Heredia, MPH , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
Sarah Krasny, BA, BS , Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
Claire Adams, Ph.D. , Psychology, Catholic University of America, DC
Virmarie Correa-Fernández, PhD , Department of Health Disparities Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
David W. Wetter, PhD , Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Maria E. Fernandez, PhD , Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Houston, TX
BACKGROUND: Smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity account for over 60% of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. These risk factors cluster and may have multiplicative effects on health. Interventions addressing multiple risk behaviors are needed, particularly in understudied populations. This study qualitatively investigated barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity (PA) in overweight Mexican-origin smokers to inform the adaptation of an evidence-based smoking cessation intervention to also address diet and PA.

METHODS: Five focus groups (three female, two male) were conducted in Spanish with overweight Mexican-origin smokers. Data were transcribed and analyzed using Atlas.ti. A team of coders reviewed the transcripts to identify salient themes.

RESULTS: Relevant themes revealed similarities and differences by gender.  Barriers to healthy eating in men revolved around preferences for unhealthy foods. Women described a lack of time and energy for healthy meal preparation and the strong influence of husbands and children, who did not always support a healthy diet. Strategies for healthy shopping, cooking, and meal preparation were important facilitators for women. For PA, there was little expectation for PA outside of routine activities. Both men and women identified work and family commitments as leaving little time for PA.  Women also expressed fear of injury, yet emphasized how enjoyable activities with family/friends facilitated being active.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the need for intervention strategies to be mindful of behavioral contexts, build off of healthy eating strategies, address ways to incorporate PA into one’s routine, and make PA fun and able to involve family/friends.

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe how smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity tend to cluster. Describe similarities and differences in the barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity in overweight Mexican-origin men and women who smoke. Describe implications for intervention design.

Keyword(s): Latinos, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was involved in the conduct and analysis of this study and am a co-Investigator on the parent project through which it is funded. I am also involved in several studies focused on physical activity and diet in Latino populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.