OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between community racial/ethnic composition and obesity risk. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we used nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey linked to geographic data from the US Decennial Census and Census Business Pattern data. RESULTS: Living in communities with a high Hispanic concentration (≥ 25%) was associated with a 0.55 and 0.42 increase in body mass index (BMI; defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and 21% and 23% higher odds for obesity for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites, respectively. Living in a community with a high non-Hispanic Asian concentration (≥ 25%) was associated with a 0.68 decrease in BMI and 28% lower odds for obesity for non-Hispanic Whites. We controlled for individual- and community-level social, economic, and demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Community racial/ethnic composition is an important correlate of obesity risk, but the relationship differs greatly by individual race/ethnicity. To better understand the obesity epidemic and related racial/ethnic disparities, more must be learned about community-level risk factors, especially how built environment and social norms operate within communities and across racial/ethnic groups.
OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between community racial/ethnic composition and obesity risk. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we used nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey linked to geographic data from the US Decennial Census and Census Business Pattern data. RESULTS: Living in communities with a high Hispanic concentration (≥ 25%) was associated with a 0.55 and 0.42 increase in body mass index (BMI; defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and 21% and 23% higher odds for obesity for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites, respectively. Living in a community with a high non-Hispanic Asian concentration (≥ 25%) was associated with a 0.68 decrease in BMI and 28% lower odds for obesity for non-Hispanic Whites. We controlled for individual- and community-level social, economic, and demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Community racial/ethnic composition is an important correlate of obesity risk, but the relationship differs greatly by individual race/ethnicity. To better understand the obesity epidemic and related racial/ethnic disparities, more must be learned about community-level risk factors, especially how built environment and social norms operate within communities and across racial/ethnic groups.
Authors: S Jay Olshansky; Douglas J Passaro; Ronald C Hershow; Jennifer Layden; Bruce A Carnes; Jacob Brody; Leonard Hayflick; Robert N Butler; David B Allison; David S Ludwig Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2005-03-17 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Andrea S Mendoza-Vasconez; Sarah Linke; Mario Muñoz; Dori Pekmezi; Cole Ainsworth; Mayra Cano; Victoria Williams; Bess H Marcus; Britta A Larsen Journal: Curr Sports Med Rep Date: 2016 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 1.733
Authors: Y Ma; K L Tucker; C E Smith; Y C Lee; T Huang; K Richardson; L D Parnell; C Q Lai; K L Young; A E Justice; Y Shao; K E North; J M Ordovás Journal: Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis Date: 2014-07-22 Impact factor: 4.222
Authors: Félice Lê-Scherban; Sandra S Albrecht; Theresa L Osypuk; Brisa N Sánchez; Ana V Diez Roux Journal: Health Place Date: 2019-06-22 Impact factor: 4.078
Authors: Lu Shi; Donglan Zhang; Jeroen van Meijgaard; Kara E MacLeod; Jonathan E Fielding Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-05-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Diana M Sheehan; Kristopher P Fennie; Daniel E Mauck; Lorene M Maddox; Spencer Lieb; Mary Jo Trepka Journal: AIDS Patient Care STDS Date: 2017-04 Impact factor: 5.078