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CHILDBEARING LATINAS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REGULATION & HABITS

Abstract

Latinas are at risk for obesity and related consequences and after bearing children weight generally increases. Maintaining a healthy body weight, as defined by a BMI between 18 and 24.99, aids in the prevention of diseases attributed to obesity including diabetes mellitus type 2 and cardiovascular disease. PURPOSE: To identify physical activity regulation (intrinsic/extrinsic/amotivation) and habits among childbearing Latinas. METHODS: A pre-post longitudinal design was used, with Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire, Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity, demographics measures and accelerometer data collected for analysis. Thirty respondents participated with BMI categories distributed 9 normal, 12 overweight, 9 obese. RESULTS: US born Latinas had higher BMI scores than non-US born Latinas. Self-reported physical activity habits resulted in the majority self-categorizing as vigorous exercisers. An adjusted composite score of self-reported habits determined over 75% of respondents to be sedentary/light exercisers. Intrinsic scores did not differ between BMI categories, but Extrinsic scores were significantly higher in overweight women. A significant interaction was found between BMI category and US born status, with years spent in the US. Participant self-reported data significantly over represented vigorous exercise while objective data determined participants to be sedentary/light exercisers. CONCLUSION: This new knowledge provides the basis for designing physical activity interventions that incorporate the exercise regulatory needs of childbearing Latinas. Educators and practitioners working with childbearing Latinas should incorporate extrinsic regulation, nativity and years in the US, in exercise education, as it may help to reduce health disparities related to participation in physical activity and related consequences for childbearing Latinas.

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