Medicina Clinica
Volume 134, Issue 11, 2010, Pages 483-485

Prevalence of obesity in immigrants in Madrid, Spain [Prevalencia de obesidad en inmigrantes en Madrid] (Article)

Marín-Guerrero A.C.* , Gutiérrez-Fisac J.L. , Guallar-Castillón P. , Banegas Banegas J.R. , Regidor E. , Rodríguez-Artalejo F.
  • a Unidad de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Prado, Toledo, Spain
  • b Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
  • c Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
  • d Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
  • e Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
  • f Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain

Abstract

Background and objective: There are no studies in Spain on the extent of obesity in adult immigrants. The aim of this paper is to present the frequency and distribution of obesity among immigrants living in Madrid. Patients and method: We selected subjects between 18 and 64 years of age. Body Mass Index was used as an estimator of obesity. Immigrant status was defined according to country of birth. The results show the unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of obesity for different immigrant groups. Results: The percentage of obesity was higher in the immigrant population than in the Spanish population, except for the group of immigrants from western countries. According to gender, male immigrants from Eastern Europe and Latin America and women from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe were the most obese. Conclusion: The highest prevalence of obesity among immigrants has also been observed in studies conducted in other countries. The prevalence of obesity among immigrants may be due to a more intense exposure to obesogenic factors both before arrival and during their residence in Spain. © 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Prevalence immigrants Obesity

Index Keywords

male Emigrants and Immigrants obesity Spain female immigrant geographic distribution Humans body mass prevalence Urban Health Article sex ratio Young Adult human adult middle aged Adolescent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77950911513&doi=10.1016%2fj.medcli.2009.10.003&partnerID=40&md5=fee2cb099fba8142ed873baa15edf057
DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2009.10.003
ISSN: 00257753
Cited by: 11
Original Language: Spanish