Abstract
Geography disparities exist in obesity and obesity related conditions. This study aimed to examine the geographic differences in obesity prevalence and its risk factors among Asian Americans in California. Data (n = 4,000) from the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey were used. Obesity (≥27.5 kg/m2) was defined according to the World Health Organization Asian body mass index cut points in Asian groups. Results suggest that 66.5% of Asians lived in urban areas. Among Asian adults, obesity prevalence was highest in Filipinos (33.8%) and lowest in Koreans (12.8%). Compared to rural Vietnamese, obesity prevalence was higher for urban Vietnamese (8.3% vs. 20.2%, p = 0.0318). Weighted multiple logistic regression analyses showed that being 45–64 years (vs. 65 years or above), being Japanese, Filipino, or other Asians (vs. Chinese) were associated with a higher odds of obesity among urban residents; whereas being 18–44 years and being 45–64 years (vs. 65 years or older), being male, having high school education (vs. having graduate education) were associated with a higher odds of obesity among rural residents. Being Vietnamese (vs. Chinese) was associated with 64% decreased odds of obesity only among rural residents (95% confidence interval = 0.14–0.94). The findings show geography disparities in obesity among Asians in California.
Highlights
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) the age- adjusted prevalence of adult obesity was 37.7% in 2013–2014 in the United States (U.S.)[1]
In order to account for racial differences in body fat percentage at the same body mass index (BMI) level, we examined overweight and obesity using the WHO Asian BMI cut points in Asian groups as 4 categories:
66.5% of Asians lived in urban areas, 13.4% lived in a 2nd city, 17.6% lived in suburban areas, and 2.5% lived in a town or rural areas
Summary
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) the age- adjusted prevalence of adult obesity was 37.7% in 2013–2014 in the United States (U.S.)[1]. About 70 million people live in rural areas, accounting for 23% of the U.S population[3] Compared with their urban counterparts, rural populations have higher rates of preventable conditions such as obesity and its related conditions (e.g., diabetes) as well as higher prevalence of all-cause mortality[4,5]; these adverse health differences observed in rural populations might be due to higher rates of health risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet)[6,7,8] and passive transportation means[9] in rural areas. The aims of this study were to 1) examine the geography (rural-urban) disparities in obesity prevalence among Asians and their subgroups (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and other Asians) in California; and 2) examine rural-urban differences in the risk factors of obesity among the Asian population of California
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