BMC Public Health
Volume 7, 2007

Influence of socio-economic and lifestyle factors on overweight and nutrition-related diseases among Tunisian migrants versus non-migrant Tunisians and French (Article) (Open Access)

Méjean C.* , Traissac P. , Eymard-Duvernay S. , El Ati J. , Delpeuch F. , Maire B.
  • a Nutrition Unit R106 (WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition), Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement (IRD), BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France, Doctoral School 393 'Public Health: Epidemiology and Biomedical Information Sciences', Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75006 Paris, France
  • b Nutrition Unit R106 (WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition), Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement (IRD), BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France
  • c Nutrition Unit R106 (WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition), Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement (IRD), BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France
  • d Institut National de Nutrition et Technologie Alimentaire (INNTA), 1006 Tunis, Tunisia
  • e Nutrition Unit R106 (WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition), Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement (IRD), BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France
  • f Nutrition Unit R106 (WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition), Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement (IRD), BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France

Abstract

Background. Migrant studies in France revealed that Mediterranean migrant men have lower mortality and morbidity than local-born populations for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We studied overweight and NCDs among Tunisian migrants compared to the population of the host country and to the population of their country of origin. We also studied the potential influence of socio-economic and lifestyle factors on differential health status. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare Tunisian migrant men with two non-migrant male groups: local-born French and Tunisians living in Tunisia, using frequency matching. We performed quota sampling (n = 147) based on age and place of residence. We used embedded logistic regression models to test socio-economic and lifestyle factors as potential mediators for the effect of migration on overweight, hypertension and reported morbidity (hypercholesterolemia, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD)). Results. Migrants were less overweight than French (OR = 0.53 [0.33-0.84]) and had less diabetes and CVD than Tunisians (0.18 [0.06-0.54] and 0.25 [0.07-0.88]). Prevalence of hypertension (grade-1 and -2) and prevalence of hypercholesterolemia were significantly lower among migrants than among French (respectively 0.06 [0.03-0.14]; 0.04 [0.01-0.15]; 0.11 [0.04-0.34]) and Tunisians (respectively OR = 0.07 [0.03-0.18]; OR = 0.06 [0.02-0.20]; OR = 0.23 [0.08-0.63]). The effect of migration on overweight was mediated by alcohol consumption. Healthcare utilisation, smoking and physical activity were mediators for the effect of migration on diabetes. The effect of migration on CVD was mediated by healthcare utilisation and energy intake. No obvious mediating effect was found for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Conclusion. Our study clearly shows that lifestyle (smoking) and cultural background (alcohol) are involved in the observed protective effect of migration. © 2007 Méjean et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Vulnerable Populations vulnerable population physical activity lifestyle hypercholesterolemia Life Style logistic regression analysis alcohol consumption demography psychological aspect France non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus caloric intake human Health Behavior middle aged statistics Overweight Cohort Studies controlled study obesity nutritional disorder health status hypertension comparative study morbidity men's health ethnology Nutrition Disorders statistical significance Residence Characteristics interview Confidence interval Humans smoking Adolescent cardiovascular disease Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics cultural factor prevalence Health Status Indicators Article health care Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult migration cohort analysis Cultural Characteristics retrospective study Tunisia health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-36749059536&doi=10.1186%2f1471-2458-7-265&partnerID=40&md5=89bacce88b094f73362fcf9009f84908
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-7-265
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English