Asian Indians of Guadeloupe are less physically active than their island counterparts

Abstract

The status of ethnic minority has been reported to be associated with a tendency toward sedentary behavior. The Guadeloupean population is composed of Afro-Caribbeans and an Asian Indian minority. This study examined the association of ethnicity and physical activity on the island. Energy expenditures (EE), energy intakes (EI), and macronutrient intakes of 122 Guadeloupean workers (60 Indians and 62 controls) were assessed by three consecutive 24-h recalls. Two-way analyses of variance were conducted to test the hypothesis of an effect of ethnicity, taking the potential effect of sex into account, on these variables. Asian Indians reported lower EE (P=0.011), lower EE/EI ratios (P=0.001), and lower physical activity (P=0.003) than their Afro-Carribean counterparts. Their food intakes were not different in terms of EI or macronutrient intake. No sex x ethnicity interactions were significant. The present study reports a tendency toward physical inactivity in Asian Indians of Guadeloupe associated with EI similar to those of controls. Sedentary lifestyles and energetic imbalances are well-documented risk factors for several diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, both major public health concerns in Guadeloupe. Strategies to prevent sedentary lifestyles should be considered for Asian Indian Guadeloupeans.

A Systematic Literature Review of Sport and Physical Activity Participation in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Migrant Populations

“…There were a small number of studies, which did not find gender differences [36,39,51,52]. For example, in a study of older people (M = 72 years) from seven different cultural groups there was no difference found between the reported amount of physical activity by men and women indicating that gender was not a significant correlate of physical activity in this population [51].…”

The Association of Body Fat and Leisure Time Physical Activity Called into Question for Asian Indians

“…This suggests that the difference in body composition observed both here and previously 2 cannot be totally explained by differences in the physical activity reported by 9,10 Dietary differences could be involved but the only available data to date have shown no difference in energy intake or macronutrient intake in healthy adult workers 9 in Guadeloupe. The 2-way analysis of variance supported the notion that the relationship between LTPA and %BF is modu-Physical Activity and Body Fat of Indians -Sinnapah et al lated by ethnicity, as the Asian Indians did not seem to benefit from LTPA to the same extent as control participants.…”

Social determinants of breast cancer in the Caribbean: a systematic review

“…OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY - Mean BMI: Asian-Indian (18.8 ± 3.0), other (20.2 ± 3.7). p  < 0.05.Sinnapah, 2009 [57]Cross-sectional12217 to 66Health facilityGuadeloupeEthnicity O,PI //ETHNICITY -Mean physical activity levels: Asian-Indian (1.62 ± 0.22), other (1.74 ± 0.34). p  = <0.05.…”

“…There were 4 inequality relationships for physical inactivity, reported across 2 social determinants in 4 articles: age ( n  = 1), ethnicity ( n  = 3) [40, 46, 56, 57]. …”

“…The two studies examining ethnicity found that Guadeloupian Asian-Indian adults reported lower levels physical activity than their non-Asian-Indian counterparts when considering time and level of vigour of activity (physical activity level score mean 1.62 (SD 0.22) versus mean 1.74 (SD 0.34), p  = <0.05) [56, 57]. …”