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The shape of things to come? Obesity prevalence among foreign-born vs. US-born Mexican youth in California

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  • Buttenheim, Alison M.
  • Pebley, Anne R.
  • Hsih, Katie
  • Chung, Chang Y.
  • Goldman, Noreen

Abstract

Obesity among the Mexican-origin adult population in the US has been associated with longer stays in the US and with being US- vs. Mexican-born, two proxies for acculturation. This pattern is less clear for Mexican-origin children and young adults: recent evidence suggests that it may be reversed, with foreign-born Mexican youth in the US at higher risk of obesity than their US-born Mexican–American counterparts. The objective of this study is to evaluate the hypothesis that the immigrant advantage in obesity prevalence for Mexican-origin populations in the US does not hold for children and young adults. We use data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey (N = 1143) and the California Health Interview Survey (N = 25,487) for respondents ages 4–24 to calculate the odds of overweight/obesity by ethnicity and nativity. We find support for the hypothesis that overweight/obesity prevalence is not significantly lower for first-generation compared to second- and third-generation Mexican-origin youth. Significantly higher obesity prevalence among the first generation was observed for young adult males (ages 18–24) and adolescent females (ages 12–17). The previously-observed protective effect against obesity risk among recent adult immigrants does not hold for Mexican-origin youth.

Suggested Citation

  • Buttenheim, Alison M. & Pebley, Anne R. & Hsih, Katie & Chung, Chang Y. & Goldman, Noreen, 2013. "The shape of things to come? Obesity prevalence among foreign-born vs. US-born Mexican youth in California," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-8.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:78:y:2013:i:c:p:1-8
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.10.023
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    6. Balistreri, K.S. & Van Hook, J., 2009. "Socioeconomic status and body mass index among hispanic children of immigrants and children of natives," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(12), pages 2238-2246.
    7. Creighton, Mathew J. & Goldman, Noreen & Pebley, Anne R. & Chung, Chang Y., 2012. "Durational and generational differences in Mexican immigrant obesity: Is acculturation the explanation?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 300-310.
    8. Bates, L.M. & Acevedo-Garcia, D. & Alegría, M. & Krieger, N., 2008. "Immigration and generational trends in body mass index and obesity in the United States: Results of the National Latino and Asian American Survey, 2002-2003," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(1), pages 70-77.
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    10. Buttenheim, Alison & Goldman, Noreen & Pebley, Anne R. & Wong, Rebeca & Chung, Chang, 2010. "Do Mexican immigrants "import" social gradients in health to the US?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(7), pages 1268-1276, October.
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    1. Janevic, T. & Borrell, L.N. & Savitz, D.A. & Echeverria, S.E. & Rundle, A., 2014. "Ethnic enclaves and gestational diabetes among immigrant women in New York City," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 180-189.
    2. Michelle L. Frisco & Susana Quiros & Jennifer Hook, 2016. "One Size May Not Fit All: How Obesity Among Mexican-Origin Youth Varies by Generation, Gender, and Age," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(6), pages 2031-2043, December.
    3. Dondero, Molly & Van Hook, Jennifer, 2016. "Generational status, neighborhood context, and mother-child resemblance in dietary quality in Mexican-origin families," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 212-220.

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