Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume 1391, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 54-70

Innovative ways of studying the effect of migration on obesity and diabetes beyond the common designs: lessons from the RODAM study (Review)

Agyemang C.* , Beune E. , Meeks K. , Addo J. , Aikins A.D.-G. , Bahendeka S. , Danquah I. , Mockenhaupt F.P. , Schulze M.B. , Klipstein-Grobusch K. , Smeeth L. , Stronks K.
  • a Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • c Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • d Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • e Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
  • f MKPGMS-Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala, Uganda
  • g Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany
  • h Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • i Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany
  • j Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • k Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • l Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are major global public health problems, with migrant populations in high-income countries being particularly affected. Type 2 diabetes and obesity are also major threats in low- and middle-income countries, from which most migrant populations originate. Transitioning of societies and the resulting changes in lifestyles are thought to be major driving forces, but the key specific factors within this broad category still need to be determined. Migrant studies provide a unique opportunity to understand the potential underlying causes of these conditions, but current research is mainly geared toward analyzing the differences between migrants and the host populations in the countries of settlement. For better understanding, there is a need to extend migrant health research across national boundaries. This review discusses innovative ways of studying the effect of migration on type 2 diabetes and obesity beyond the common designs and the relevance of extending migrant health studies across national boundaries in the current era of increasing global migration. Specifically, we describe the burden and different methods for conducting migrant studies. We use the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study as a case study, discussing the methods, some results, and lessons learned, including challenges and an essential recipe for success that may guide future migrant health research. © 2016 New York Academy of Sciences.

Author Keywords

Sub-Saharan Africa Ethnic minority Migrants Obesity Europe type 2 diabetes

Index Keywords

lifestyle Life Style health care policy non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 human diabetes mellitus obesity comparative study pathology African health care practice Humans migrant Review epidemic migration world health organization Transients and Migrants global disease burden
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84992359588&doi=10.1111%2fnyas.13204&partnerID=40&md5=39d75e025ef26703e4beae7ef38714da
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13204
ISSN: 00778923
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English