ASPO Abstracts
A wake-up call"¬ù: Self-reported dietary modifications by Mexican-origin adults following participation in a cross-sectional NAFLD research study
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose: To understand the impact of participation in a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cross-sectional study on self-reported dietary behaviors among Mexican-origin adults with overweight and obesity. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of NAFLD. As part of the study, participants received non-invasive transient elastography (Fibroscan®) and had the opportunity to discuss their results and dietary strategies to reduce NAFLD risk with a bilingual and bicultural healthcare provider. Mexican-origin adults from the study with Fibroscan® continuous attenuation parameter scores ≥280 dB/m, indicative of NAFLD, were eligible to participate in follow-up in-person, semi-structured interviews. A purposeful sampling approach was then used to enroll US- and Mexican-born men (n=15) and women (n=26) for qualitative interviews. Interviews took place within two months of the study visit. Results: Study participants commonly described their study experience as a "wake-up call" to take control of their health. Participants reported feeling hopeful about their ability to address their NAFLD risk by making tangible dietary changes, including eating less fast food, tortillas, red meat, bread, salty snacks, and drinking less soda. Many participants initiated these changes following their study visit and expressed motivation to continue these behaviors. However, participants mentioned cultural barriers to diet modification including unhealthy common Mexican foods, cultural norms around eating large portions, and family and gender dynamics in household decision-making around cooking and eating. Structural barriers to healthy eating including high costs of healthy ingredients, lack of time for food preparation, and predominance of fast-food restaurants were also noted. Conclusions: Results highlight the potential benefits to dietary behaviors among Mexican-origin adults as result of participating in a study that did not include traditional, in-depth behavioral counseling. Investigation into the influence of individual study components (e.g. dose, contact) that may contribute to increased motivation to engage in dietary change behaviors long-term and ultimately reduce liver cancer risk is warranted.
Keywords: NAFLD, Mexican-origin, behavior change