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Middle-Aged Central American Men's Perceptions of a Healthy Body Weight, Excess Body Weight and Its Relationship to Chronic Disease: Qualitative Findings

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Title: Middle-Aged Central American Men's Perceptions of a Healthy Body Weight, Excess Body Weight and Its Relationship to Chronic Disease: Qualitative Findings
Language: English
Authors: Jasmine Charter-Harris (ORCID 0009-0009-5151-8727), Marshall K. Cheney, Amanda J. Visek, Derek M. Griffith (ORCID 0000-0003-0018-9176), Kim Robien, Ivonne Rivera, Karina R. Lora
Source: Health Education Journal. 2025 84(3):247-261.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Body Weight, Males, Obesity, Gender Differences, Low Income Groups, Physical Health, Diseases, Immigrants, Knowledge Level, Beliefs
Geographic Terms: District of Columbia, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Maryland, Virginia
DOI: 10.1177/00178969241288461
ISSN: 0017-8969
1748-8176
Abstract: Objective: To explore Central American men's perceptions of healthy body weight, factors that influence weight gain and increase awareness of being overweight/obese, consequences of excess weight gain and gender similarities and differences in body weight. Design: In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with low-income, overweight or obese Central American men residing in the USA (n = 25). Setting: Semi-structured, individual interviews (via Zoom or phone call) were conducted in Washington, DC in 2020--2021. Methods: Participants discussed their thoughts on the meaning of healthy weight; the role that weight management plays in the likelihood of getting diseases such as diabetes, cancer or hypertension; and whether having a healthy weight is different for men and women. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed to identify themes using NVivo v12. Results: Participants were first-generation immigrants (mean age 50.9 ± 6.4) and had resided in the USA for 23.7 ± 10.2 years. They defined healthy weight as having the energy to carry on daily activities, not carrying extra body fat, being in good physical health, and having a balance between height and weight. Participants discussed having an unbalanced diet, not engaging in physical activity and getting older influenced weight gain. Factors that raised awareness of their weight gain included doctors' advice and cognisance of their current body weight. Participants in the study discussed the connection between weight status and some chronic diseases (i.e. cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and SARS-CoV-2 virus infection); cancer was the least discussed. Participants discussed that both men and women should have a healthy weight and contributing factors to why men weigh more than women. Conclusion: Health promotion interventions for Central American immigrant men should consider framing weight management as a means to continue fulfilling important social and cultural roles and responsibilities. Future research should examine Central American men's perceptions of weight management as part of cancer prevention.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1466945
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Middle-Aged Central American Men's Perceptions of a Healthy Body Weight, Excess Body Weight and Its Relationship to Chronic Disease: Qualitative Findings
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jasmine+Charter-Harris%22">Jasmine Charter-Harris</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5151-8727">0009-0009-5151-8727</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marshall+K%2E+Cheney%22">Marshall K. Cheney</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amanda+J%2E+Visek%22">Amanda J. Visek</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Derek+M%2E+Griffith%22">Derek M. Griffith</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0018-9176">0000-0003-0018-9176</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim+Robien%22">Kim Robien</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ivonne+Rivera%22">Ivonne Rivera</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karina+R%2E+Lora%22">Karina R. Lora</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Health+Education+Journal%22"><i>Health Education Journal</i></searchLink>. 2025 84(3):247-261.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: 15
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Body+Weight%22">Body Weight</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Males%22">Males</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Obesity%22">Obesity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Income+Groups%22">Low Income Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Health%22">Physical Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diseases%22">Diseases</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Immigrants%22">Immigrants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+Level%22">Knowledge Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beliefs%22">Beliefs</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22District+of+Columbia%22">District of Columbia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22El+Salvador%22">El Salvador</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Honduras%22">Honduras</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Guatemala%22">Guatemala</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nicaragua%22">Nicaragua</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maryland%22">Maryland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Virginia%22">Virginia</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/00178969241288461
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  Data: 0017-8969<br />1748-8176
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Objective: To explore Central American men's perceptions of healthy body weight, factors that influence weight gain and increase awareness of being overweight/obese, consequences of excess weight gain and gender similarities and differences in body weight. Design: In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with low-income, overweight or obese Central American men residing in the USA (n = 25). Setting: Semi-structured, individual interviews (via Zoom or phone call) were conducted in Washington, DC in 2020--2021. Methods: Participants discussed their thoughts on the meaning of healthy weight; the role that weight management plays in the likelihood of getting diseases such as diabetes, cancer or hypertension; and whether having a healthy weight is different for men and women. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed to identify themes using NVivo v12. Results: Participants were first-generation immigrants (mean age 50.9 ± 6.4) and had resided in the USA for 23.7 ± 10.2 years. They defined healthy weight as having the energy to carry on daily activities, not carrying extra body fat, being in good physical health, and having a balance between height and weight. Participants discussed having an unbalanced diet, not engaging in physical activity and getting older influenced weight gain. Factors that raised awareness of their weight gain included doctors' advice and cognisance of their current body weight. Participants in the study discussed the connection between weight status and some chronic diseases (i.e. cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and SARS-CoV-2 virus infection); cancer was the least discussed. Participants discussed that both men and women should have a healthy weight and contributing factors to why men weigh more than women. Conclusion: Health promotion interventions for Central American immigrant men should consider framing weight management as a means to continue fulfilling important social and cultural roles and responsibilities. Future research should examine Central American men's perceptions of weight management as part of cancer prevention.
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        Value: 10.1177/00178969241288461
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Body Weight
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      – SubjectFull: Males
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