Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 86-94

Obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure amongst recently arrived Sudanese refugees in Queensland, Australia (Article)

Renzaho A.M.N.* , Bilal P. , Marks G.C.
  • a Migration, Social Disadvantage, and Health Programs, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Level, 89 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia, Centre for Internal Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
  • b School of Allied and Public Health Australian, Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia
  • c School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia

Abstract

The study assessed the prevalence of obesity and related conditions among Sudanese adult migrants living in Brisbane, Australia. Data were obtained on 314 Sudanese immigrants aged 18-70 years. Measured body mass index (BMI) and self-reported diabetes and hypertension were obtained. More than half (51 %) of participants were overweight or obese, 6.4 % reported having type 2 diabetes while 12.4 % had hypertension. The full adjusted regression model explained 28.1 % of the variance in BMI. Odds of reporting type 2 diabetes increased with age, BMI and were greater among participants rating health as poor/fair than those rating as good/very good/excellent. Odds of high blood pressure increased with age, BMI, and were higher among participants rating health as poor/fair than those as good/very good/excellent. Health promotion programs to prevent weight gain in this subpopulation will significantly reduce inequalities related to type 2 diabetes and improve cardio-vascular outcomes. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Australia Obesity/BMI Sudanese immigrants Hypertension diabetes

Index Keywords

refugee Australia Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 human Refugees middle aged obesity hypertension Aged ethnology Humans Adolescent male female prevalence adult Queensland social class Sudan
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84894987940&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9791-y&partnerID=40&md5=bdb27f9770841587081ca86cecdb2706
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9791-y
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English