OBJECTIVE - To learn if Mexican-American children from low-income neighborh
oods have excess diabetes risk factors.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - The study involved 173 Mexican-American child
ren aged 9 years. This is the age before type 2 diabetes usually develops i
n youths and where the disparity in body fat between Mexican-American and n
on-Hispanic white children is evident. The study also targets poor children
because diabetes and being overweight are more common in Mexican-American
adults from a lower than from a higher socioeconomic status. The diabetes r
isk factors measured mere percent body fat, dietary fat intake, daily fruit
and vegetable intake, and physical fitness. Body fat was measured by bioel
ectric impedance, dietary intake was measured by three 24-h dietary recalls
, and physical fitness was measured by a modified Harvard step test.
RESULTS - According to self-reported dietary recalls, Mexican-American chil
dren ate higher than recommended fat servings and had higher percent energy
from fat and saturated fat. On the other hand, their reported daily fruit.
and vegetable intake was half of that recommended by national dietary guid
elines. A large percentage of these children were at unacceptable physical
fitness levels. Percent body fat was higher in these Mexican-American child
ren than that reported for non-Hispanic white children. Finally, 60% of the
children had a first- or second-degree relative with diabetes.
CONCLUSIONS - Because diabetes is highly prevalent in Mexican-American adul
ts, type 2 diabetes is increasing in Mexican-American youths, and diabetes
risk factors are more common in Mexican-American children, a prudent measur
e would be to explore early-age diabetes risk factor prevention programs in
this population.