Rhode Island medical journal (2013)
Volume 98, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 43-47

Pediatric refugees in Rhode Island: increases in BMI percentile, overweight, and obesity following resettlement (Article)

Heney J.H. , Dimock C.C. , Friedman J.F. , Lewis C.
  • a is Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cli, Director, Refugee Health Program, Fostering Health Program, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
  • b is Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cli, Director, Refugee Health Program, Fostering Health Program, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
  • c is Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cli, Director, Refugee Health Program, Fostering Health Program, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
  • d is Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cli, Director, Refugee Health Program, Fostering Health Program, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI, United States

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate BMI change among pediatric refugees resettling in Providence, RI.METHODS: Retrospective chart review of pediatric refugees from the initial evaluation to year 3 post-resettlement at Hasbro Children's Hospital. Primary outcome of interest was within person change in BMI percentile at each time point.RESULTS: From 2007-2012, 181 children visited the clinic. Initial prevalence of overweight and obesity was 14.1% and 3.2% versus 22.8% and 12.6% at year 3. From visit 1 and years 1-3, there was a positive mean within person change in BMI percentile of 12.9% (95% CI 6.3-19.6%s), 16.6% (95% CI 11.2-21.9%), and 14.4% (95% CI 9.1-19.7%).CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 17.3% at initial intake to 35.4% at 3 years post-resettlement to surpass that of American children (31.7-31.8% for 2007-2012). Refugee children have additional risk factors for obesity; multidisciplinary interventions must be designed to address nutrition at each visit.

Author Keywords

Obesity BMI child Pediatric Weight overweight Refugee

Index Keywords

refugee human epidemiology Refugees Asia Overweight statistics and numerical data Rhode Island obesity ethnology United States Humans Adolescent male preschool child female Child, Preschool Africa prevalence Retrospective Studies retrospective study body mass Body Mass Index Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943363577&partnerID=40&md5=1b4dd977c158106e98b2bd9cefb56f56
ISSN: 23272228
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English