Diabetes, Obesity and its Root Causes: A Latino Perspective

Background Health education programs created to reduce diabetes risk emphasize weight loss but results among immigrant Latinos have at best been mixed. Community health workers (CHWs) are familiar with their communities and have experience implementing diabetes interventions emphasizing weight loss, making them an ideal resource. Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore CHWs' views on barriers to weight loss among immigrant Latinos, a major contributing factor to diabetes. Methods Two focus group discussions were conducted with 15 Latino CHWs using a semistructured guide. A grounded theory approach by Charmaz, informed by the Health Belief Model guided the questions. Results Five themes emerged from the perceptions of the Latino CHWs: (1) Obesity can be the result of lifestyle-related behaviors, (2) Latino culture unknowingly promotes obesogenic behaviors, (3) There is a lack of practical knowledge regarding healthy food options, (4) Family dynamics can hinder weight loss attempts, and (5) The routine demands of daily life serve as barriers to healthy behaviors. Conclusions Despite Latinos' awareness of the role lifestyle plays in obesity, cultural values, family relationships, and immigration factors remain as strong contributors. Culturally sensitive and adapted programming is needed to help address obesity and diabetes among this population.