*3.1. Sample Characteristics*

Demographic and background characteristics have been reported elsewhere [47] and summarized here. Four-hundred and thirty-five participants contacted members of the research team, 344 completed the oral script and initial eligibility interview, 211 men completed the written consent, 203 men completed the "Health and Culture" interview, and 193 completed all study components which included the "Health and Culture" interview, the diet questionnaire, and the use of an accelerometer. The data reported here are from the 203 Latino men (99 Mexican and 104 Puerto Ricans) who completed the "Health and Culture" interview. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 65 years (*M* = 39.4, *SD* = 12.3). Most were single/never married (52.7%; *n* = 107) and had a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) or higher or some college (1–3 years) or graduated from a 4 year college (66.0%, *n* = 134). As intended, participants were roughly equally distributed between the three weight categories: 31.5% Normal, 34.5% Overweight, and 32.0% Obese.

There were significant differences in the following variables: age, with Puerto Rican being older (*p* < 0.0001), less likely to be single/never married (*p* < 0.05), more likely to have been born in the U.S. mainland (*p* < 0.05), more likely to smoke (*p* < 0.05), and more likely to be unemployed (*p* < 0.001) than Mexicans. Other characteristics including the highest grade completed, the percent of men who had health insurance, religion and the language in which the interview was completed showed no significant differences between Puerto Ricans and Mexicans. Finally, there were no significant differences between Puerto Ricans and Mexicans in weight-related measures (i.e., BMI, body fat, hip and waist measurements).

### *3.2. Intervention Language and Ethnicity of Intervention Leader*

As seen in Table 1, results revealed that 66.50% reported the language which they preferred the intervention to be conducted was Spanish or Spanish and English and 69.46% reported that the preferred language of the intervention materials was in both Spanish and English. Results revealed that 88.67% said it was "moderately", "very" or "extremely important" for the intervention leader to be bilingual and 66.01% said it was either "moderately", "very" or "extremely important" for the intervention leader to be Latino.

**Table 1.** Preferences for Language, Hispanic/Latino Background, Length, and Frequency of the Intervention among All Participants and among Participants with Overweight or Obesity.


Note. <sup>a</sup> Moderately, Very, or Extremely Important. <sup>b</sup> % Yes. PR = Puerto Ricans; MX = Mexicans.
