BACKGROUND: It has been shown that as immigrants' length of residence increases, so does their weight. However, little is known about factors associated with weight status among Chinese Americans, one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the US. METHODS: Baseline data from a National Cancer Institute-funded longitudinal study involving a multi-stage probability sample of Chinese Americans residing in two communities in New York City were collected. RESULTS: Chinese Americans had a low BMI (mean = 22.81) and a lower proportion of obese individuals compared with other ethnic groups in the US reported in the literature. While the prevalence of being overweight (21%) and obese (2%) was low, length of residence was positively associated with weight status (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Innovative strategies to help Chinese Americans maintain healthy weight status and to prevent them from becoming overweight and obese are needed.
BACKGROUND: It has been shown that as immigrants' length of residence increases, so does their weight. However, little is known about factors associated with weight status among Chinese Americans, one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the US. METHODS: Baseline data from a National Cancer Institute-funded longitudinal study involving a multi-stage probability sample of Chinese Americans residing in two communities in New York City were collected. RESULTS: Chinese Americans had a low BMI (mean = 22.81) and a lower proportion of obese individuals compared with other ethnic groups in the US reported in the literature. While the prevalence of being overweight (21%) and obese (2%) was low, length of residence was positively associated with weight status (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Innovative strategies to help Chinese Americans maintain healthy weight status and to prevent them from becoming overweight and obese are needed.
Authors: C Anderson Johnson; Bin Xie; Chunhong Liu; Kim D Reynolds; Chih-Ping Chou; Carol Koprowski; Peggy Gallaher; Donna Spruitj-Metz; Qian Guo; Ping Sun; Jie Gong; Paula Palmer Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2006-10-05 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Allison A Hedley; Cynthia L Ogden; Clifford L Johnson; Margaret D Carroll; Lester R Curtin; Katherine M Flegal Journal: JAMA Date: 2004-06-16 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Donna Shelley; Marianne Fahs; Roberta Scheinmann; Susan Swain; Jiaojie Qu; Dee Burton Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2004-02 Impact factor: 9.308