Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 5, 2015, Pages 1496-1503

Nativity, US Length of Residence, and BMI Among Diverse Asian American Ethnic Groups (Article)

Rosas L.G.* , Sanchez-Vaznaugh E.V. , Sánchez B.N.
  • a Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, 1070 Arastradero Road, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94304, United States
  • b Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, Center on Social Disparities in Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
  • c Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Abstract

Little is known about body mass index (BMI) patterns by nativity and length of US residence among Asian American ethnic groups. We used linear regression to examine the association of BMI with nativity and length of residence across six ethnic groups (Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, South Asians, and Vietnamese) using data from the California Health Interview Study. There was significant heterogeneity in the nativity/length of residence patterns in unadjusted BMI across ethnic groups (p < 0.001). In fully adjusted models, heterogeneity was attenuated (p = 0.05) with BMI among all US-born ethnic groups significantly higher than BMI for immigrants with the exception of South Asians. Longer US residence was positively associated with BMI among all groups, though only significant among Filipinos and Koreans. Programs targeting Asian Americans should take into consideration BMI patterns by nativity and US length of residence among diverse Asian American ethnic groups. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Body mass index Immigration Asian Americans Obesity

Index Keywords

human epidemiology Health Behavior middle aged Ethnic Groups statistics and numerical data ethnic group time factor Time Factors Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study migrant Humans California Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants Asian American Socioeconomic Factors female socioeconomics adult body mass Body Mass Index
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84941337091&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0096-6&partnerID=40&md5=c18b74d09cc8e9f142cec2ff15edbd17
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0096-6
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English