Date of Conferral

7-23-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Hebatullah Tawfik

Abstract

Current knowledge regarding risk factors for metabolic syndrome (METS) among Hispanic individuals of Mexican descent remains limited. Using data from NHANES 2017–2020, this study compared factors contributing to METS and included U.S.-born and non-U.S.-born Hispanic adults of Mexican descent aged ≥ 18 years living in the USA (N = 949) with assessed METS. Grounded in the social ecological model and social determinants of health, this research evaluated dietary habits, lifestyle patterns, and acculturation processes using multivariate logistic regression and stratified analyses. Educational attainment was associated with METS, but the association was not statistically significant in adjusted models p = 0.528. Elevated odds of METS was noted among participants using tobacco OR = 1.087, p < 0.05, CI [1.012, 1.167], alcohol OR = 1.161, p < 0.001, CI [1.065, 1.266], and among participants consuming ultra-processed food (OR = 1.586, p < 0.05, CI [1.016, 2.474], but these associations were not significant in adjusted models possibly due to limited subgroup sizes. Place of birth and length of time in the U.S. did not moderate the occurrence of METS in this population. Dietary habits and lifestyle patterns did not fully explain METS risk in this sample. Overall, these results underscored the complexity inherent in METS modeling and the limitations of data available for Hispanic populations, especially the small subgroup sample sizes. Future adequately powered studies using large representative Hispanic samples should continue to investigate potential explanations for METS disparities, including structural barriers and other social determinants. Such research may inform culturally responsive prevention strategies, health education, and policies that support positive social change.

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