Obesity is a serious public health problem, especially in some minority communities, and it has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. While obesity is a serious health concern in both American Indian and Mexican American populations, the relationship between obesity and cardiac autonomic control in these two populations is not well understood. The present study in a selected sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans assessed associations between obesity, blood pressure (BP), and cardiovascular autonomic control. Cardiovascular autonomic control, systolic and diastolic mean BP, and body mass index were obtained from one hundred thirty-two American Indian and Mexican American men and women who are literate in English and are residing legally in San Diego County. Men had a significant greater systolic and diastolic BP and were more likely to develop systolic prehypertension and hypertension than women. Obese participants showed greater mean heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic BP than nonobese participants. Obese men also exhibited greater cardiac sympathetic activity and lower cardiovagal control than obese women. These results suggest that obesity and gender differences in cardiovascular autonomic control may contribute to risk for cardiovascular disorders in this sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans. 1. Introduction The prevalence of obesity in American Indians is high and is generally associated with insulin resistance and diabetes [1–3], but generally only in the past few generations [4]. This increase in the incidence of obesity in American Indians may be due in part to the relative abundance of high fat, high calorie food, and a shift from an active to a more sedentary lifestyle [2]. There is also evidence of greater odds of obesity among US-born Mexican Americans, in comparison to first generation Mexican Americans [5]. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2002) reported a 40% prevalence of overweight in Mexican-origin children between the ages of 6 and 19 (versus 28% for non-Hispanic whites) [6]. This study also found a 22% prevalence of obesity in Mexican Americans (versus 14% for non-Hispanic whites). These findings suggest that obesity is a serious health concern in both American Indian and Mexican American groups. Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and stroke [7]. American Indians and Hispanics, together with African Americans, have higher stroke risks and stroke
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