Perceived Risk of Heart Attack and Type 2 Diabetes in Hispanic Adults With Overweight and Obesity

Individuals with a greater perceived risk of heart attack or type 2 diabetes tend to adopt recommended lifestyle changes to minimize their risks. Despite the rapidly growing Hispanic population in the United States, data regarding their perceived risks are lacking.

This study aimed to examine the perceived risk of suffering a heart attack and/or developing type 2 diabetes and to explore the factors associated with these risk perceptions in Hispanic adults with overweight/obesity.

We analyzed 69 Hispanic adults with overweight/obesity who participated in the screening/baseline visit for the Adelgaza study, a weight loss and diabetes prevention trial, using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions. Heart attack or type 2 diabetes risk perception was assessed using a single-item questionnaire.

The mean (SD) values for age and body mass index (BMI) were 43.8 (11.2) years and 31.7 (4.5) kg/m 2 , respectively. Of all participants, 46.4% perceived a low risk for heart attack and 29.0% perceived a low risk for developing type 2 diabetes in their lifetime, whereas only 11.6% reported both risk perceptions. Older age, lower BMI, and longer walking duration (minutes) per day were significantly associated with a lower perceived risk of heart attack ( P < .05). Having no family history of heart attack, lower BMI, and lower fat intake were significant predictors of a lower diabetes-risk perception ( P < .05).

Hispanic adults with overweight/obesity seem to underestimate their risks of heart attack and type 2 diabetes.