Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 2, 2015, Pages 367-374

Immigrant Status, Acculturation and Risk of Overweight and Obesity in Adolescents Living in Madrid (Spain): The AFINOS Study (Article)

Esteban-Gonzalo L.* , Veiga Ó.L. , Regidor E. , Martínez D. , Marcos A. , Calle M.E.
  • a Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
  • b Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • c Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
  • d Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
  • e Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
  • f Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain

Abstract

Prior studies have identified a link between length of residence and overweight (including obesity) in immigrant populations. However, this link has not been confirmed in Europe. This study compares overweight prevalences in native Spanish and immigrant adolescents living in the Madrid region (Spain), and whether length of residence affects the risk of immigrant adolescents being overweight. The study population was a representative sample of adolescents aged 13–17 years (n = 2,081, 1,055 girls) who lived in Madrid. Data were collected from November 2007 to February 2008 through a cross-sectional survey in which self-reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI. Overall, no significant difference was detected in overweight risk between the Spanish and immigrant adolescents. However, immigrant adolescents residing in Spain for 6 years or under did show a higher overweight risk than both the Spanish adolescents (OR 1.57) and immigrants who had lived in Spain for longer than 6 years (OR 1.98). Changes in lifestyle associated to a longer duration of residence in Spain seems to have a slightly protective effect on the risk of being overweight in immigrant adolescents. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Length of residence Spain Acculturation Immigration overweight

Index Keywords

lifestyle Life Style human epidemiology Overweight statistics and numerical data obesity ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study migrant Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Spain Acculturation female risk factor Risk Factors cultural factor prevalence
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84886152725&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9933-2&partnerID=40&md5=30fd69e5cfd00b3f3896c2f4d932bb96
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9933-2
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English