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Migration-Related Weight Changes among African Immigrants in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel Byiringiro

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Binu Koirala

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Tiwaloluwa Ajibewa

    (Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA)

  • Eric K. Broni

    (Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Baltimore, MD 21093, USA)

  • Xiaoyue Liu

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Khadijat Adeleye

    (Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA)

  • Ruth-Alma N. Turkson-Ocran

    (Division of General Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • Diana Baptiste

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Oluwabunmi Ogungbe

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Cheryl Dennison Himmelfarb

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Serina Gbaba

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Yvonne Commodore-Mensah

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

Abstract

(1) Background: people who migrate from low-to high-income countries are at an increased risk of weight gain, and excess weight is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Few studies have quantified the changes in body mass index (BMI) pre- and post-migration among African immigrants. We assessed changes in BMI pre- and post-migration from Africa to the United States (US) and its associated risk factors. (2) Methods: we performed a cross-sectional analysis of the African Immigrant Health Study, which included African immigrants in the Baltimore-Washington District of the Columbia metropolitan area. BMI category change was the outcome of interest, categorized as healthy BMI change or maintenance, unhealthy BMI maintenance, and unhealthy BMI change. We explored the following potential factors of BMI change: sex, age at migration, percentage of life in the US, perceived stress, and reasons for migration. We performed multinomial logistic regression adjusting for employment, education, income, and marital status. (3) Results: we included 300 participants with a mean (±SD) current age of 47 (±11.4) years, and 56% were female. Overall, 14% of the participants had a healthy BMI change or maintenance, 22% had an unhealthy BMI maintenance, and 64% had an unhealthy BMI change. Each year of age at immigration was associated with a 7% higher relative risk of maintaining an unhealthy BMI (relative risk ratio [RRR]: 1.07; 95% CI 1.01, 1.14), and compared to men, females had two times the relative risk of unhealthy BMI maintenance (RRR: 2.67; 95% CI 1.02, 7.02). Spending 25% or more of life in the US was associated with a 3-fold higher risk of unhealthy BMI change (RRR: 2.78; 95% CI 1.1, 6.97). (4) Conclusions: the age at immigration, the reason for migration, and length of residence in the US could inform health promotion interventions that are targeted at preventing unhealthy weight gain among African immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Byiringiro & Binu Koirala & Tiwaloluwa Ajibewa & Eric K. Broni & Xiaoyue Liu & Khadijat Adeleye & Ruth-Alma N. Turkson-Ocran & Diana Baptiste & Oluwabunmi Ogungbe & Cheryl Dennison Himmelfarb &, 2022. "Migration-Related Weight Changes among African Immigrants in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:15501-:d:981109
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Danielle Mensah & Oluwabunmi Ogungbe & Ruth-Alma N. Turkson-Ocran & Chioma Onuoha & Samuel Byiringiro & Nwakaego A. Nmezi & Ivy Mannoh & Elisheva Wecker & Ednah N. Madu & Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, 2022. "The Cardiometabolic Health of African Immigrants in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Bertille Daran & Pierre Levasseur, 2022. "Is overweight still a problem of rich in sub-Saharan Africa? Insights based on female-oriented demographic and health surveys," Post-Print hal-03511042, HAL.
    3. Clara M. Gona & Tendai H Lupafya & Natsai Zhou-Chidavaenzi & Eunice Mafundikwa & Philimon N. Gona, 2021. "The Health Status of Zimbabwean Immigrants in the US: A Needs Assessment," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 30(7), pages 969-976, September.
    4. Daran, Bertille & Levasseur, Pierre, 2022. "Is overweight still a problem of rich in sub-Saharan Africa? Insights based on female-oriented demographic and health surveys," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
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