Latinos experience higher rates of obesity than Whites do, with even higher rates in rural areas. Rural populations face unique environmental conditions because of its isolated location, the limited infrastructure and resources available. A particularly vulnerable group in rural (agricultural) areas are farm workers. There are approximately 800,000 farm workers in California, most of whom are Latino immigrants.
Using data from three studies in California, we have highlighted the increased risk of chronic health conditions in Latino farm workers, in particular for obesity, and for those who may lack access to health care (Matias et al., 2022). We also observed differences in chronic health risks between women and men, suggesting that clinical and public health responses might need to be sex-specific (Matias et al., 2022). Expansion of eligibility for supplemental nutrition programs for this population with low wages could reduce the disease burden they carry.
Using data from a cohort of Latino farm workers in the California Central Valley, we assessed the association between acculturation and fruit/vegetable consumption and fat intake. Overall, low acculturation was associated with healthier dietary patterns (Matias et al., 2013). Thus, even in a low acculturated population like farm workers, acculturation is an important factor to consider when designing culturally tailored interventions for this immigrant population. Other interesting findings include the association between school attendance in the US and having a child at home with higher fat intake (Matias et al., 2013). A deeper understanding of this population’s dietary practices and its correlates can assist the development of interventions.
The PASOS SALUDABLES was a worksite intervention aimed to reduce obesity and prevent diabetes among farm workers. Despite promising results in a pilot study, the intervention implemented during meal breaks in the fields did not reduce body mass index or other clinical indicators in a cluster-randomized controlled trial in Oxnard, California (Matias et al., 2022). Nevertheless, this study supports the feasibility of recruiting and engaging the Latino farm worker population in workplace health promotion interventions.