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Differential effect of birthplace and length of residence on body mass index (BMI) by education, gender and race/ethnicity

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  • Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Emma V.
  • Kawachi, Ichiro
  • Subramanian, S.V.
  • Sánchez, Brisa N.
  • Acevedo-Garcia, Dolores

Abstract

Although birthplace and length of residence have been found to be associated with Body Mass Index (BMI)/obesity in the USA, their effects may not be the same across groups defined by education, gender and race/ethnicity. Using cross-sectional population based data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey, we investigated the associations of birthplace and US length of residence with BMI, and whether the influence of birthplace-US length of residence on BMI varied by education, gender and race/ethnicity. Our sample included 37,350 adults aged 25-64 years. Self-reported weight and height were used to calculate BMI. Birthplace and length of residence were combined into a single variable divided into five levels: US-born, foreign-born living in the United States for more than 15, 10-14, 5-9, and less than 5 years. Controlling for age, gender, marital status, race/ethnicity, education, income, fruit and vegetable consumption, current smoking and alcohol use, we found that: (1) foreign-born adults had lower BMI than US-born adults; (2) among foreign-born adults, longer residence in the United States was associated with higher BMI; and (3) the effect of birthplace-length of US residence on BMI differed by education level, gender and race/ethnicity. Specifically, longer residence in the United States was associated with the greatest percent increases in BMI among the lowest educated groups than higher educated groups, among women (vs. men) and among Hispanics (vs. other racial/ethnic groups). These findings suggest that a protective effect of foreign birthplace on BMI appears to attenuate with length of residence in the United States, and also reveal that BMI/obesity trajectories associated with length of US residence vary by education, gender and race/ethnicity. Immigrant status, independently and in combination with education, gender and race/ethnicity should be considered in future obesity prevention and reduction efforts.

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  • Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Emma V. & Kawachi, Ichiro & Subramanian, S.V. & Sánchez, Brisa N. & Acevedo-Garcia, Dolores, 2008. "Differential effect of birthplace and length of residence on body mass index (BMI) by education, gender and race/ethnicity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(8), pages 1300-1310, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:67:y:2008:i:8:p:1300-1310
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    1. Sandra Albrecht & Ana Diez Roux & Allison Aiello & Amy Schulz & Ana Abraido-Lanza, 2013. "Secular trends in the association between nativity/length of US residence with body mass index and waist circumference among Mexican-Americans, 1988–2008," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(4), pages 573-581, August.
    2. Acevedo-Garcia, Dolores & Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Emma V. & Viruell-Fuentes, Edna A. & Almeida, Joanna, 2012. "Integrating social epidemiology into immigrant health research: A cross-national framework," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2060-2068.
    3. Claire E. Altman & Jennifer Van Hook & Jonathan Gonzalez, 2017. "Becoming Overweight without Gaining a Pound: Weight Evaluations and the Social Integration of Mexicans in the United States," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 3-36, March.
    4. Laura Corlin & Shannon Ball & Mark Woodin & Allison P. Patton & Kevin Lane & John L. Durant & Doug Brugge, 2018. "Relationship of Time-Activity-Adjusted Particle Number Concentration with Blood Pressure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, September.
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    6. Liu, Jing & Waldorf, Brigitte S., 2012. "Moving To The Land Of Frosted Cakes And Fried Food: Immigrant Obesity In The U.S," Working papers 120896, Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    7. Annie Ro, 2014. "The Longer You Stay, the Worse Your Health? A Critical Review of the Negative Acculturation Theory among Asian Immigrants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Yoon Jung Kim & Sin Gon Kim & Yo Han Lee, 2018. "Prevalence of General and Central Obesity and Associated Factors among North Korean Refugees in South Korea by Duration after Defection from North Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, April.
    9. Ana Cristina Lindsay & Qun Le & Mary L. Greaney, 2017. "Infant Feeding Beliefs, Attitudes, Knowledge and Practices of Chinese Immigrant Mothers: An Integrative Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Malmusi, Davide & Borrell, Carme & Benach, Joan, 2010. "Migration-related health inequalities: Showing the complex interactions between gender, social class and place of origin," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(9), pages 1610-1619, November.
    11. Mosi Adesina Ifatunji & Yanica Faustin & Wendy Lee & Deshira Wallace, 2022. "Black Nativity and Health Disparities: A Research Paradigm for Understanding the Social Determinants of Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-40, July.
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    13. Daouli, Joan & Davillas, Apostolos & Demoussis, Michael & Giannakopoulos, Nicholas, 2013. "The determinants of body mass in Greece: Evidence from the National Health Survey," MPRA Paper 66392, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Ro, Annie & Fleischer, Nancy, 2014. "Changes in health selection of obesity among Mexican immigrants: A binational examination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 114-124.
    15. Sunmin Lee & Allison H O’Neill & Emily S Ihara & David H Chae, 2013. "Change in Self-Reported Health Status among Immigrants in the United States: Associations with Measures of Acculturation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-1, October.
    16. Ullmann, S. Heidi & Goldman, Noreen & Pebley, Anne R., 2013. "Contextual factors and weight change over time: A comparison between U.S. Hispanics and other population sub-groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 40-48.
    17. Faye Chan & Susana Adamo & Pamela Coxson & Lee Goldman & Dongfeng Gu & Dong Zhao & Chung-Shiuan Chen & Jiang He & Valentina Mara & Andrew Moran, 2012. "Projected impact of urbanization on cardiovascular disease in china," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 57(5), pages 849-854, October.
    18. Elena Rodriguez-Alvarez & Nerea Lanborena & Luisa N. Borrell, 2018. "Obesity Inequalities According to Place of Birth: The Role of Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-10, July.
    19. Bridget K. Gorman & Cynthia Novoa & Rachel Tolbert Kimbro, 2016. "Migration Decisions, Acculturation, and Overweight among Asian and Latino Immigrant Adults in the United States," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 728-757, September.
    20. Ou, Susan, 2019. "Are some neighborhoods bad for your waistline? A test of neighborhood exposure effects on BMI," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 52-63.
    21. John, Dolly A. & de Castro, A.B. & Martin, Diane P. & Duran, Bonnie & Takeuchi, David T., 2012. "Does an immigrant health paradox exist among Asian Americans? Associations of nativity and occupational class with self-rated health and mental disorders," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2085-2098.
    22. Santosh Jatrana & Ken Richardson & Samba Siva Rao Pasupuleti, 2018. "The Effect of Nativity, Duration of Residence, and Age at Arrival on Obesity: Evidence from an Australian Longitudinal Study," VID Working Papers 1811, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.
    23. Zia Choudhry & Sarojini M Sengupta & Natalie Grizenko & William J Harvey & Marie-Ève Fortier & Norbert Schmitz & Ridha Joober, 2013. "Body Weight and ADHD: Examining the Role of Self-Regulation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(1), pages 1-8, January.
    24. Bousmah, Marwân-al-Qays & Combes, Jean-Baptiste Simon & Abu-Zaineh, Mohammad, 2019. "Health differentials between citizens and immigrants in Europe: A heterogeneous convergence," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(2), pages 235-243.
    25. Quandt, Sara A. & Grzywacz, Joseph G. & Trejo, Grisel & Arcury, Thomas A., 2014. "Nutritional strategies of Latino farmworker families with preschool children: Identifying leverage points for obesity prevention," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 72-81.

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