Researchers Look into Sedentary Habits and Heart Disease Among Latino Women

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Researchers at the newly created Women’s Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University have started a four-year, $3.7 million study to look at the link between sedentary habits and cardiovascular health among Hispanic and Latino women over 55. The study is funded by the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Strategically Focused Network.

The study will recruit 250 Latino women to track their sitting and analyze their cholesterol, blood sugar, and other bio-markers related to cardiovascular health.  Investigators will also analyze data collected from 400 women who participated in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, a long-term survey of more than 16,000 U.S. Latinos.

Although worldwide research suggests that prolonged sitting contributes to increased risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, limited research on sedentary behavior has been done in the U.S., most of which has been among blacks and whites.

Researchers chose to focus on Latino women for many reasons: Latino women make up a growing portion of the U.S. population, heart disease is the second leading causes of death among Latino women, and few published studies have assessed Latino womens’ cardiovascular health. As of 2014, there were about 26 million U.S. Hispanic and Latino women, a number expected to rise to about 45 million by 2040, according to U.S. Census data.

It is important to understand the harmful effects of sitting among Latino women in order to develop culturally and linguistically relevant health promotion and disease prevention campaigns. Improving Latina health has the potential to benefit numerous generations to come.

Read more about this new study here.

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