Public Health Nutrition
Volume 13, Issue 10, 2010, Pages 1593-1598

Length of residence and obesity among immigrants in Spain (Article) (Open Access)

Gutiérrez-Fisac J.L. , Marn-Guerrero A. , Regidor E. , Guallar-Castillón P. , Banegas J.R. , Rodríguez-Artalejo F.
  • a Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autnoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo s/n, E-28029 Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiologa y Salud Pblica (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
  • b Unidad de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Nuestra Seora Del Prado, Talavera de la Reina, Spain
  • c Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • d Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autnoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo s/n, E-28029 Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiologa y Salud Pblica (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
  • e Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autnoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo s/n, E-28029 Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiologa y Salud Pblica (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
  • f Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autnoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo s/n, E-28029 Madrid, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiologa y Salud Pblica (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Objective Various studies in the USA and Canada have consistently shown a positive association between length of residence of immigrants and obesity. Studies in European countries have obtained less consistent results. The present work assesses the influence of length of residence on the frequency of obesity in immigrants in the city of Madrid, Spain.Design We studied a sample of 7155 persons aged 18 years and over residing in the city of Madrid, who were was surveyed between November 2004 and May 2005. Information was collected on immigrant status (country of birth), length of residence in Spain, obesity, sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle.Results Compared with the Spanish population, the odds for obesity in the immigrant population by length of residence was less than one in all groups, becoming closer to one with increasing time of residence (OR = 067, 073 and 081 for immigrants with less than 2, 2-4 and 5-9 years of residence in Spain, respectively), up to 10 or more years of residence, when it declined (OR = 069). The magnitude of this association was considerably reduced after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and for perceived health, but was not further modified after adjusting for lifestyle variables.Conclusions Length of residence of immigrants in the city of Madrid is not associated with the frequency of obesity. It is possible that the circumstances immigrants encounter after arriving in Spain do not involve an overexposure to factors favouring obesity, relative to those they bring with them. © 2009 The Authors.

Author Keywords

Length of residence immigrants Obesity

Index Keywords

risk human middle aged Odds Ratio obesity health status Time Factors Aged ethnology Young Adult Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Spain female risk factor Risk Factors prevalence Article adult migration Emigration and Immigration social class time
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77957222134&doi=10.1017%2fS1368980009992801&partnerID=40&md5=b2d6ec017f4928ca488c5c946b196971
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980009992801
ISSN: 13689800
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English