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Socio-Demographic and Dietary Factors Associated with Excess Body Weight and Abdominal Obesity among Resettled Bhutanese Refugee Women in Northeast Ohio, United States

Author

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  • Madhav P. Bhatta

    (Department of Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA)

  • Lori Assad

    (Department of Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA)

  • Sunita Shakya

    (Department of Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA)

Abstract

Studies of obesity and related health conditions among the Bhutanese, one of the largest refugee groups resettled in the United States in the past five years, are limited. This study examined the factors associated with excess body weight (body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m 2 ) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 80 cm) in a community-based sample of 18–65 year old Bhutanese refugee women in Northeast Ohio. A Nepali-language questionnaire was used to measure socio-demographic and dietary factors. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured to define excess body weight and abdominal obesity. The mean (±standard deviation) age of the 108 participants was 36.5 (±12.2) years and length of time in the U.S. was 19.4 (±11.9) months. Overall, 64.8% and 69.4% of the women had excess body weight and abdominal obesity, respectively. Age was significantly associated with both excess body weight (odds ratio: 1.10; 95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.16) and abdominal obesity (1.09; 1.04–1.14). Consuming meat (4.01; 1.14–14.60) was significantly associated with excess body weight but not abdominal obesity. These findings suggest the need for lifestyle and dietary change education programs among this new and vulnerable group to reduce the prevalence of excess body weight and abdominal obesity and their health consequences.

Suggested Citation

  • Madhav P. Bhatta & Lori Assad & Sunita Shakya, 2014. "Socio-Demographic and Dietary Factors Associated with Excess Body Weight and Abdominal Obesity among Resettled Bhutanese Refugee Women in Northeast Ohio, United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:7:p:6639-6652:d:37494
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abhinav Vaidya & Suraj Shakya & Alexandra Krettek, 2010. "Obesity Prevalence in Nepal: Public Health Challenges in a Low-Income Nation during an Alarming Worldwide Trend," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Clinton-Davis, Lord & Fassil, Yohannes, 1992. "Health and social problems of refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 507-513, August.
    3. Oza-Frank, R. & Venkat Narayan, K.M., 2010. "Overweight and diabetes prevalence among US immigrants," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(4), pages 661-668.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jeffrey H. Cohen & Arati Maleku & Sudarshan Pyakurel & Taku Suzuki & Shambika Raut & Francisco Alejandro Montiel Ishino, 2022. "Exploring the Digital Divide among the Bhutanese Refugee Community during COVID-19: Engaged Research in Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.

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