Studies of obesity and related health conditions among the Bhutanese, one of the largest refugee groups resettled in the United States in the past five years, are limited. This study examined the factors associated with excess body weight (body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 80 cm) in a community-based sample of 18-65 year old Bhutanese refugee women in Northeast Ohio. A Nepali-language questionnaire was used to measure socio-demographic and dietary factors. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured to define excess body weight and abdominal obesity. The mean (±standard deviation) age of the 108 participants was 36.5 (±12.2) years and length of time in the U.S. was 19.4 (±11.9) months. Overall, 64.8% and 69.4% of the women had excess body weight and abdominal obesity, respectively. Age was significantly associated with both excess body weight (odds ratio: 1.10; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.16) and abdominal obesity (1.09; 1.04-1.14). Consuming meat (4.01; 1.14-14.60) was significantly associated with excess body weight but not abdominal obesity. These findings suggest the need for lifestyle and dietary change education programs among this new and vulnerable group to reduce the prevalence of excess body weight and abdominal obesity and their health consequences. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Bhutanese refugees risk factors U.S. Abdominal obesity Dietary Socio-demographic Excess body weight

physical activity lifestyle Life Style refugee Ohio Waist Circumference Continental Population Groups human abdominal obesity Refugees Self Report ancestry group middle aged statistics and numerical data Obesity, Abdominal risk assessment obesity health status feeding behavior diet Aged ethnology Bhutan weight United States Young Adult Humans Adolescent female height risk factor questionnaire prevalence Article Questionnaires lifestyle modification adult age food intake body mass weight gain womens health public health