Immigrant assimilation and BMI and waist size: A longitudinal examination among hispanic and chinese participants in the multi‐ethnic study of atherosclerosis. (29th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albrecht, Sandra S.; Roux, Ana V. Diez; Kandula, Namratha R.; Osypuk, Theresa L.; Ni, Hanyu; Shrager, Sandi
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 21:Number 8(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1695
• Page End: 1703
• Publication Date: 2013-05-29
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="oby20104-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>US birth and longer length of US residence among the foreign‐born have been linked to higher anthropometric measures. However, previous studies have been cross sectional and few have examined heterogeneity by ethnic group. Cross‐sectional findings that show immigrant weight converging to US‐born levels with longer time in the United States imply that immigrants' weight is increasing at a faster rate relative to US‐born individuals. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm this pattern.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20104-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Methods</title> <p>Using longitudinal data from 1, 486 Hispanic and 802 Chinese adults aged 45‐84 years in the Multi‐ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we examined whether foreign‐born participants experienced greater increases in BMI and waist circumference (WC) than the US‐born over a median follow‐up of 5 years. We also investigated heterogeneity in these associations by Hispanic subgroup.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20104-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Among Hispanics and Chinese, the foreign‐born had a lower adjusted mean BMI and WC at baseline than the US‐born, but there were no significant differences in BMI or WC change over time. There was heterogeneity by Hispanic subgroup: despite small baseline nativity differences in WC, foreign‐born Mexican Hispanics had a greater annual mean increase in WC over time compared to US‐born Mexican Hispanics (mean difference in annual change = 0.28 cm, <italic>P</italic> = 0.03). There were no nativity differences in the rate of WC increase over time among non‐Mexican Hispanics. Foreign‐born Mexican Hispanics also experienced a faster rate of WC increase compared to foreign‐born non‐Mexican Hispanics (mean difference in annual change = 0.24 cm, <italic>P</italic> = 0.01).</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20104-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Longer time in the United States, examined prospectively, may only be linked to adverse anthropometric changes in some immigrant groups.</p> </sec> </abstract>