The Lifestyle and Prevalence of Vegetarianism in Seventh-day Adventist Hispanics

140 Pages·2016·1.7 MB·English

by  Maribel Hidalgo

AAnnddrreewwss UUnniivveerrssiittyy
DDiiggiittaall CCoommmmoonnss @@ AAnnddrreewwss UUnniivveerrssiittyy
Master's Theses Graduate Research
2013
TThhee LLiiffeessttyyllee aanndd PPrreevvaalleennccee ooff VVeeggeettaarriiaanniissmm iinn SSeevveenntthh--ddaayy
AAddvveennttiisstt HHiissppaanniiccss
Maribel Hidalgo
Andrews University
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses
RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn
Hidalgo, Maribel, "The Lifestyle and Prevalence of Vegetarianism in Seventh-day Adventist Hispanics"
(2013). Master's Theses. 10.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/10
This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews
University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital
Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Thank you for your interest in the

Andrews University Digital Library
of Dissertations and Theses
.

Please honor the copyright of this document by
not duplicating or distributing additional copies
in any form without the author’s express written
permission. Thanks for your cooperation.
ABSTRACT

THE LIFESTYLE AND PREVALENCE OF VEGETARIANISM

IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST HISPANICS

by

Maribel Hidalgo

Chair: Winston J. Craig
ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH

Thesis

Andrews University

School of Health Professions

Title: THE LIFESTYLE AND PREVALENCE OF VEGETARIANISM IN SEVENTH-
DAY ADVENTIST HISPANICS

Name of the researcher: Maribel Hidalgo

Name and degree of chair: Winston J. Craig, Ph.D.

Date completed: July 2013

Problem
Hispanics are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases and are a growing
and significant population. There is minimal research regarding the lifestyle of the
Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) among the Hispanic community. The purpose of this
cross-sectional descriptive study was to ascertain the lifestyle, health status, eating and
physical activity habits of the SDA Hispanics from part of the Midwest.

Method
An anonymous survey was distributed in person to a convenience sample of 150
participants 18 years or older in the SDA Hispanic churches of Berrien Springs, Grand
Rapids, Chicago, and Indianapolis. The survey was divided into five sections:
demographics, eating patterns, physical activity habits, quality-of-life (QoL) questions,
and a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).

Results
Most of the Hispanics came from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic.
About 56% of the participants were female and 44% were males. Only 57% of the
participants carried health insurance. This study identified 56% as non-vegetarian, 19%
as lacto-ovo vegetarian, 13% as pesco-vegetarian, and 12% as vegan. The mean Body
Mass Index (BMI) was 27.0±4.3 for males and 27.3±5.1 for females, putting them in the
overweight category. The mean Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) for males was
25.7±22.7 metabolic equivalents (METS)/week and 18.5±16.0 METS/week for females.
On average, both genders slept 7 hours per day. The main reason given for adopting a
vegetarian lifestyle was health concerns; the average span of those following a vegetarian
lifestyle was 24.4±16.5 years (range 1-69).

Conclusions
The majority of the Hispanics come from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Dominican
Republic. Less than half of SDA Hispanic participants follow a vegetarian diet, mostly
for health concerns. More than half carry health insurance. Most of the participants are
in the normal and overweight category. Males are more physically active than are
females. In this study, SDA Hispanic vegetarians consume more fruits, vegetables, nuts
and seeds than SDA Hispanic non-vegetarians. SDA Hispanics report significantly better
vitality than national norms in most age groups and significantly better in the bodily pain
scale than the U.S. norms in all age groups. SDA Hispanics report worse in the physical
component summary (PCS) than national norms, though the PCS declines with age in
both groups. Males report significantly better than females in the vitality and the general
health scales/domains. However, when compared to the SDA Hispanic omnivores, SDA
Hispanic vegetarians report significantly better in the mental component summary (MCS)
and in the physical functioning, role-physical, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional,
and mental health scales/domains.
Andrews University

School of Health Professions

THE LIFESTYLE AND PREVALENCE OF VEGETARIANISM

IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST HISPANICS

A Thesis

Presented in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Master of Science

by

Maribel Hidalgo

2013
© Copyright by Maribel Hidalgo 2013
All Rights Reserved
THE LIFESTYLE AND PREVALENCE OF VEGETARIANISM

IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST HISPANICS

A thesis
presented in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Master of Science

by

Maribel Hidalgo

APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE:

___________________________________
Winston J. Craig, Ph.D., R.D., Chair

_____________________________________
Peter Pribis, Dr.PH, R.D.

_____________________________________
Tevni Grajales, Ph.D.

_____________________________________ ____________________
Magaly Hernandez, MPH, R.D. Date approved
DEDICATION

To my heavenly Father for giving me the strength and faith to continue. To my husband,

Edgar, and my sons Gabriel and Daniel, for their enduring optimism and enthusiastic

support during every phase of this research study. To my parents for believing in me.