Abstract PR07: Racial and ethnic differences in dietary intake, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) among cancer survivors: 2005 and 2010 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS)
Authors: Byrd Doratha Armenthus , Agurs-Collins Tanya , Berrigan David , Thompson Francis 
Published: May 2016

Background: Cancer survivors are at increased risk for developing secondary tumors and other comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, and a diminished health-related quality of life. Minority survivors have higher risk for recurrence and other comorbid conditions than non-Hispanic white survivors. Data are lacking regarding racial/ethnic differences in related health behaviors among cancer survivors. We investigated racial/ethnic differences in mean dietary and alcohol intake, physical activity, and BMI and adherence to American Cancer Society (ACS) and governmental recommendations, using data from the cross-sectional 2005 and 2010 NHIS.

Methods: The sample included respondents with a history of cancer, excluding those with non-melanoma or unknown skin cancer and underweight or unknown BMI. The total sample (N=3367) included non-Hispanic Whites (NHW; N=2698), non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs; N=379) and Hispanics (N=290). Age/sex adjusted ANOVA compared mean daily dietary intake of fruit and vegetables, fiber, added sugars, calcium, weekly moderate and vigorous physical activity and BMI between racial/ethnic groups. Age/sex adjusted predicted marginals compared prevalence of non-adherence with ACS and governmental guidelines for nutrition and physical activity and BMI status between racial/ethnic groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze associations of race/ethnicity with guideline non-adherence. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for socio-demographic, smoking and BMI differences.

Results: Hispanics had the highest mean intake of fruit and vegetables, fiber and calcium (p=.0031; p&lt;.0001; p&lt;.0001) and the lowest intake of added sugars (p=0.0392). NHBs had the highest mean BMI (30.1 kg/m2; p=&lt;.0001). All racial/ethnic groups had high prevalence of non-adherence to fiber guidelines, with Hispanics having the lowest non-adherence (95.4% NHWs; 94.0% NHBs; 89.7% Hispanics; p=0.0025). NHWs had highest non-adherence with alcohol guidelines (4.8%, p=&lt;.0001). 60.8% of NHWs, 72.9% of NHBs and 72.3% of Hispanics did not adhere to physical activity guidelines (p=&lt;0.0001). 65.7% of NHWs, 76.3% of NHBs, and 75.0% Hispanics were overweight/obese (p=&lt;.0001).

In the logistic regression model adjusting for socio-demographic covariates, smoking and BMI, Hispanics had lower prevalence of non-adherence to added sugars guidelines (OR=0.68; CI=0.47-0.98) than NHWs and lower non-adherence to fiber guidelines (OR=0.45; CI=0.26-0.78). Differences in non-adherence to alcohol guidelines among Hispanics did not reach significance; however, NHBs had significantly lower non-adherence with alcohol guidelines than NHWs (OR=0.40; CI=0.19-0.82). Hispanics were 1.50 times more likely to not adhere to physical activity guidelines (CI=1.05-2.14). NHBs and Hispanics were 1.76 and 1.55 times, respectively, to be overweight/obese (CI=1.32-2.33 and CI=1.10-2.17).

Conclusion: There are racial/ethnic differences in certain health behaviors. However, non-adherence to guidelines is high in all three racial/ethnic groups. Achieving the recommended guidelines for nutrition, physical activity and weight management is a concern for all cancer survivors, indicating the need for intervention among this growing group of at-risk individuals.

This abstract is also presented as Poster B36.

Citation Format: Doratha Armenthus Byrd, Tanya Agurs-Collins, David Berrigan, Francis Thompson. Racial and ethnic differences in dietary intake, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) among cancer survivors: 2005 and 2010 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr PR07.