Posters
Investigating Environmental and Socioeconomic Contributors to Adult Obesity in the Rio Grande Valley
Presenting Author Academic/Professional Position
John Nicholas Cauba
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 2)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 3)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 4)
Faculty
Discipline/Specialty (Author 4)
Medical Education
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV), comprising the four southernmost Texas counties—Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy—is a predominantly Hispanic region along the United States– Mexico border. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of obesity in the RGV substantially exceeds both state and national averages, with profound implications for the region’s overall health burden. For instance, large-scale health surveys estimate that between 45% and 50% of Mexican–American adults in the RGV are classified as obese. Genetic predisposition is estimated to account for approximately 50% of the variance in body mass index (BMI), and environmental and lifestyle factors such as diet, physical inactivity, and poverty are recognized as major contributors to the region’s obesity epidemic.
Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) database. Variables relevant to environmental and socioeconomic influences on obesity were selected for analysis. Data were examined at three geographic levels: national, Texas state, and county-specific. Continuous variables were assessed using chi-squared tests, followed by pairwise proportion z-tests (without Yates’ continuity correction) conducted in R. Effect sizes were reported as odds ratios (ORs). Data visualizations were created using the ggplot2 package, and heatmaps were generated using 2024 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles. To explore associations between adult obesity and explanatory variables, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using data from 240 Texas counties (n = 14 excluded due to missing data).
Results: A clear stepwise increase in obesity prevalence was observed from national (34.0%) to Texas state (36.0%) to RGV county levels (46.9%). The prevalence in the RGV was significantly higher than both the Texas average (χ²(1) = 6.7 × 10⁴, p < 0.001) and the national average (χ²(1) = 1.0 × 10⁵, p < 0.001). Odds ratios comparing the RGV to national averages were as follows: obesity (1.09), poor or fair health (4.38), uninsured status (2.56), and physical inactivity (2.05). The multiple linear regression model examining county-level predictors of obesity was statistically significant (F(8, 231) = 27.3, p < 0.001), explaining 48% of the variance in adult obesity (R² = 0.48, Adjusted R² = 0.47).
Conclusions: This analysis highlights the disproportionately high burden of obesity in the RGV, where the obesity prevalence significantly exceeds both state and national levels. Compelling environmental and socioeconomic conditions that underscore this disparity include the low Food Environment Index, high levels of physical inactivity, and poor access to exercise. As such, targeted public health interventions that address the underlying socioeconomic and environmental determinants of obesity remain critical to mitigating the health disparities faced by the RGV’s predominantly Hispanic population.
Presentation Type
Poster
Recommended Citation
Cauba, John Nicholas; Woo, Jihoo; Wiggins, Russell; and Mito, Shizue, "Investigating Environmental and Socioeconomic Contributors to Adult Obesity in the Rio Grande Valley" (2025). Research Colloquium. 52.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2025/posters/52
Included in
Investigating Environmental and Socioeconomic Contributors to Adult Obesity in the Rio Grande Valley
Background: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV), comprising the four southernmost Texas counties—Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy—is a predominantly Hispanic region along the United States– Mexico border. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of obesity in the RGV substantially exceeds both state and national averages, with profound implications for the region’s overall health burden. For instance, large-scale health surveys estimate that between 45% and 50% of Mexican–American adults in the RGV are classified as obese. Genetic predisposition is estimated to account for approximately 50% of the variance in body mass index (BMI), and environmental and lifestyle factors such as diet, physical inactivity, and poverty are recognized as major contributors to the region’s obesity epidemic.
Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) database. Variables relevant to environmental and socioeconomic influences on obesity were selected for analysis. Data were examined at three geographic levels: national, Texas state, and county-specific. Continuous variables were assessed using chi-squared tests, followed by pairwise proportion z-tests (without Yates’ continuity correction) conducted in R. Effect sizes were reported as odds ratios (ORs). Data visualizations were created using the ggplot2 package, and heatmaps were generated using 2024 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles. To explore associations between adult obesity and explanatory variables, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using data from 240 Texas counties (n = 14 excluded due to missing data).
Results: A clear stepwise increase in obesity prevalence was observed from national (34.0%) to Texas state (36.0%) to RGV county levels (46.9%). The prevalence in the RGV was significantly higher than both the Texas average (χ²(1) = 6.7 × 10⁴, p < 0.001) and the national average (χ²(1) = 1.0 × 10⁵, p < 0.001). Odds ratios comparing the RGV to national averages were as follows: obesity (1.09), poor or fair health (4.38), uninsured status (2.56), and physical inactivity (2.05). The multiple linear regression model examining county-level predictors of obesity was statistically significant (F(8, 231) = 27.3, p < 0.001), explaining 48% of the variance in adult obesity (R² = 0.48, Adjusted R² = 0.47).
Conclusions: This analysis highlights the disproportionately high burden of obesity in the RGV, where the obesity prevalence significantly exceeds both state and national levels. Compelling environmental and socioeconomic conditions that underscore this disparity include the low Food Environment Index, high levels of physical inactivity, and poor access to exercise. As such, targeted public health interventions that address the underlying socioeconomic and environmental determinants of obesity remain critical to mitigating the health disparities faced by the RGV’s predominantly Hispanic population.
