Association between parity and obesity in Mexican and Mexican-American women: findings from the Ella binational breast cancer study

J Immigr Minor Health. 2013 Apr;15(2):234-43. doi: 10.1007/s10903-012-9649-8.

Abstract

Obesity at diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with higher all-cause mortality and treatment-associated toxicities. We evaluated the association between parity and obesity in the Ella study, a population of Mexican and Mexican-American breast cancer patients with high parity. Obesity outcomes included body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2), waist circumference (WC) ≥35 in (88 cm), and waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR) ≥0.85. Prevalence of obesity ([BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) was 38.9 %. For WC, the multivariate odds ratio (OR) (95 % confidence interval [CI]) for having WC ≥ 35 inches in women with ≥4 pregnancies relative to those with 1-2 pregnancies was 1.59 (1.01-2.47). Higher parity (≥4 pregnancies) was non-significantly associated with high BMI (OR = 1.10; 95 % CI 0.73-1.67). No positive association was observed for WHR. Our results suggest WC is independently associated with high parity in Hispanic women and may be an optimal target for post-partum weight loss interventions.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mexican Americans*
  • Mexico
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / ethnology*
  • Parity*
  • Pregnancy
  • United States
  • Waist Circumference