Image by Tania Dimas from Pixabay
Tania Dimas from Pixabay


The Hispanic community is one of the demographics with the highest obesity rates in the US. A Hispanic Community Health Study revealed that the average rate of weight gain among Latinos is about ten kilograms per decade in early adulthood, which is why many begin to live with obesity by their mid-30s to mid-40s. Therefore, it's not surprising that there is a high prevalence of becoming overweight or obese in the population when compared to non-Hispanic demographics.

Plenty of reasons contribute to the rising obesity rates among Latinos. Unfortunately, obesity is a complex disease that can increase one's risk for other health conditions, which makes it important to understand the causes of obesity and the strategies that can help with its management.

Understanding the High Obesity Rates Among Latinos



Many factors contribute to the rising cases of obesity in the US. However, Latinos have a higher risk of obesity and other related comorbidities than the general population due to factors that are specific to the community. In fact, a study revealed that the environment, culture, and even the healthcare experience of the Hispanic population in the US are all factors that contribute to the increasing obesity rates among the population.

First, the study cites that diet is one of the top environmental factors that lead to high levels of obesity among Hispanics. While Mexicans, Dominicans, and Central Americans tend to have better diet quality, traditional Latino diets still tend to be high in carbohydrates. On top of that, their diets can further lower in quality once they move to the US due to the accumulation of American dietary behaviors.

The culture of Latinos in the US also makes an impact on the rising obesity rates in the community. Family is important in the local culture, which is why the parenting style, feeding practices, and health behaviors of the mothers and grandmothers can significantly influence the eating habits and BMI of the younger population. As a result, family members are likely to adopt the poor dietary habits and health behaviors of grandmothers or mothers with obesity.

On top of that, the population also experiences inadequate access to healthcare treatments for obesity. Due to the shortage of Latino healthcare providers in the US, many Hispanics fail to get appropriate medical advice about diet and regular exercise. The study also highlights that a significant portion of the population doesn't have insurance coverage, which can affect their ability to manage the genetic or even the cultural factors of obesity.

Health Strategies for the Hispanic Community

Engage in family-based weight loss interventions


As previously stated, family is very important to Latinos. As such, each family's lifestyle habits and daily activities can greatly impact the physical well-being of adults and especially their children.

To manage the obesity rates among Hispanics, experts recommend family-based interventions that can improve multiple health behaviors within each family unit. Since each family has a different dynamic, some interventions for Hispanic families include health education, goal-setting, and hands-on teaching about diets and physical activities. Meanwhile, some family interventions for Latino families target sedentary behaviors, like screen time and sleep hygiene, because these can also induce hunger and reduce one's fitness levels.

Start to practice proper dietary habits


Carbohydrate-rich diets are one of the factors that contribute to obesity in the community. However, people don't have to stay away from traditional Hispanic meals to be able to lose excess weight.

Instead of cutting off delicious meals from their diet, Latinos with obesity should balance their calorie intake through proper dietary habits. They can learn this from nutrition and behavioral science based weight loss programs that teach people how to meet their health goals and make healthier food choices. Through these programs, people can learn how to portion their meals and take nutritional information into account. These dietary practices can help them enjoy their favorite traditional meals in appropriate portions to achieve healthy weight loss.

Increase access to exercise programs


People tend to gain weight because the calories that they consume are greater than the calories that they are able to burn during the day. Therefore, it's important to encourage members of the Hispanic community to increase their physical activities to burn off excess calories.

Given that gyms can be inaccessible for some, Latinos can opt to invest in cost-effective equipment for home gyms, such as a thick exercise mat that can be used for push-ups or even for yoga. People can also lose more weight with the help of jump ropes, which can provide cardio benefits and strengthen one's muscles. Latinos with obesity can also walk or run around their neighborhood regularly to burn any excess calories for free.

Proper health education can stop the rising rates of obesity among Hispanics. To learn more about the community, you can check out our articles at Latin Post. Our resources on life and culture, sports, politics, and more can help you understand the factors that shape the lives of Latinos in the US.