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Hispanic women may be less aware of their weight and heart disease risk, according to a new study.

New research comparing Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women on their knowledge of heart disease risk factor revealed that minority women are significantly less likely to know of the increased cardiovascular disease they face by being overweight and obese. 

Lead researcher Dr. Elsa-Grace Giardina of Columbia University Medical Center in New York said that while knowledge of heart disease risk has increased, recognition of risk factors still remains low among certain women. This is worrying because it makes prevention efforts more difficult, according to researchers.

"Based on these findings, prevention strategies need to target CVD knowledge and awareness among overweight and obese Hispanic women," Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, and President of the Academy of Women's Health, said in a news release.

The findings are published in the Journal of Women's Health.