Cigarette Smoking and Body Image in Latino Men and its Association with Weight Status and Latino Background: Results from the Latino Men’s Health Initiative

Johnson, Diante, Medical College of Wisconsin, Mentor, Poster Presentation, Sanchez-Johnsen, Lisa, School and College, Student

Diante Johnson, “Cigarette Smoking and Body Image in Latino Men and its Association with Weight Status and Latino Background: Results from the Latino Men’s Health Initiative”
Mentor: Lisa Sanchez-Johnsen, MCW Cancer
Poster #86

The purpose of this presentation is to describe the design and rationale of the MCW-UWM fellowship proposal written for this project. The overall aim of the proposed study is to describe the relationship of cigarette smoking with body image discrepancy and body dissatisfaction, and to assess whether this relationship differs between Puerto Rican and Mexican men and across weight status (normal weight, overweight, obesity). There is a dearth of research on the relationship between cigarette smoking and body image in Latino men. Body image describes the way an individual feels and thinks about their body shape and body weight. Obesity refers to an individual that has a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is ≥30. Body image discrepancy is the difference between one’s current and ideal body image. The proposed study is a secondary data analysis from the NIH-funded Latino Men’s Health Initiative (R21CA143636 and R1CA143636-S) a cross-sectional study that included 203 Latino men (99 Mexicans and 104 Puerto Ricans) between the ages of 18 and 65 with a BMI of ≥ 18.5 kg/m2. The Figure Rating Scale will be used to measure body image discrepancy. The Body Areas Satisfaction subscale of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire will be used to assess body satisfaction. Hispanic background, smoking status, and weight status via BMI from objectively measured weight and height will also be assessed. This is a work-in-progress. This study will advance our understanding of the complex relationships between smoking, body image, Latino background, and weight status among Puerto Rican and Mexican men. The findings of this study have the potential to improve culture-based cancer risk reduction interventions by addressing factors that are associated with cigarette smoking and obesity in Mexican and Puerto Rican men.