Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 5, 2015, Pages 1468-1475

Pre- and Post-displacement Stressors and Body Weight Development in Iraqi Refugees in Michigan (Article)

Jen K.-L.C.* , Zhou K. , Arnetz B. , Jamil H.
  • a Department of Nutrition and Food Science, 3009 Science Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
  • b Department of Nutrition and Food Science, 3009 Science Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
  • c Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  • d Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States

Abstract

Refugees have typically experienced stress and trauma before entering the US. Stressors and mental health disorders may contribute to obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the body mass index (BMI) in Iraqi refugees settled in Michigan in relationship to pre- and post-migration stressors and mental health. Anthropometric and demographic data were collected from 290 Iraqi refugees immediately after they arrived in Michigan and one year after settlement. Significant increases were observed in BMI (+0.46 ± 0.09 kg/m2, p < 0.0001) and the percentage of refugees suffering from hypertension (from 9.6 to 13.1 %, p < 0.05). Significant increases in stress, depression and acculturation, as well as decreases in post-migration trauma and social support, were also observed. Linear regression analyses failed to link stressors, well-being, and mental health to changes in BMI. It is likely that acculturation to a new lifestyle, including dietary patterns and physical activity levels, may have contributed to these changes. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Iraqi refugees Mental health Body mass index nutrition Acculturation Lifestyle

Index Keywords

Body Weights and Measures depression refugee demography Michigan mental health human epidemiology comorbidity middle aged Refugees Iraq Aged social support ethnology Residence Characteristics Young Adult Humans psychology Adolescent Acculturation Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics cultural factor adult body weight posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic morphometry
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84941416652&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0127-3&partnerID=40&md5=86e6f89090155668225ade99611bf909
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0127-3
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English