Abstract B033: At-risk alcohol intake and clinically meaningful weight loss among overweight/obese Latinos in a nutrition education program

Background/Objective: Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after smoking and obesity. It contributes to weight gain through excess calories and can make cells more sensitive to other carcinogens, such as tobacco. However, only 45% of U.S. adults recognize alcohol as a cancer risk factor, compared to 89% for tobacco and 53% for obesity. Given this gap in awareness and the potential for compounded cancer risk from multiple risk behaviors, this study examines the association between at-risk drinking, clinically meaningful weight loss (CWL), and co-occurrence of cancer risk behaviors among overweight/obese participants in SANOS (Health and Nutrition for All), a culturally and linguistically tailored nutrition education program for Latino adults. Methods: We enrolled 432 Spanish-speaking Latino adults with BMI ≥25 kg/m2. Weight was measured at baseline and 6 months to assess CWL (≥5% reduction). At 6 months, surveys captured data on at-risk drinking (binge: ≥ 4/5 drinks per occasion or heavy: ≥ 8/15 drinks per week for women/men), tobacco use, and moderate-intensity physical activity to assess recent behaviors. Data was also collected on age, health insurance status, employment status, and primary care access (time since last PCP visit). Logistic and linear regression models were used (p < 0.05). Results: Of 432 Spanish-speaking participants (mean age 42.6 ± 9.4 years), 70.4% were female and 44.7% had insurance, mostly Medicaid (80.8%). At 6 months, 21.5% (93/432) reported at-risk drinking. Younger age (OR = 0.97, p = 0.015) and more time since last PCP visit (OR = 1.72, p = 0.013) were associated with at-risk drinking; however, only the association with primary care access remained significant in a regression model adjusting for insurance status, employment, gender, and age (OR = 1.60, p = 0.044). At-risk drinkers compared to those not at-risk showed smaller reductions in weight (x̄ = -1.37 lbs vs. -2.00 lbs), BMI (x̄ = -0.12 kg/m2 vs. -0.39 kg/m2), and waist circumference (x̄= -0.47” vs. -0.68”), with significantly lower odds of achieving CWL (8.6% vs. 18.3%, OR = 0.41, p = 0.029). At-risk drinkers were more likely to report past (OR = 2.56, p = 0.005) and current (OR = 3.06, p = 0.035) tobacco use, and significantly fewer days of moderate-intensity physical activity per week (x̄ = 2.30 vs. 3.15 days/week; β = −0.81, p = 0.011). Compared to those not at risk, at-risk drinkers had higher odds of reporting both smoking and low physical activity concurrently at study completion (OR = 2.73, p = 0.014). Conclusion: At-risk drinkers are less likely to achieve CWL and more likely to report concurrent cancer risk behaviors like tobacco use and low physical activity. Future lifestyle education programs should educate participants on the role of alcohol in cancer risk, alongside diet/nutrition and physical activity counseling. Additionally, interventions should be tailored to participants’ specific risk behavior profiles, informed by initial screening of current risk factors, and readiness to change. Citation Format: Melissa Gaviria Garrido, Bharat Narang, MPH, Ashley M. Rodriguez, Jessica Llamozas, MSN, RN CPH, Robert Payano, Josana Tonda, Gabriela Rebollo, Vanessa Cruz, Francesca Gany, MD, MS, Jennifer Leng, MD, MPH. At-risk alcohol intake and clinically meaningful weight loss among overweight/obese Latinos in a nutrition education program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B033.