Dramatic Increases in Obesity and Overweight Prevalence among Asian Subgroups in the United States, 1992–2011

Abstract

We examined trends in adult obesity and overweight prevalence among major Asian/Pacific Islander (API) subgroups and the non-Hispanic whites from 1992 to 2011. Using 1992–2011 National Health Interview Surveys, obesity, overweight, and BMI differentials were analyzed by logistic, linear, and log-linear regression. Between 1992 and 2011, obesity prevalence doubled for the Chinese, the Asian Indians, the Japanese, and the Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders; and tripled for the Filipinos. Obesity prevalence among API adults tripled from 3.7% in 1992 to 13.3% in 2010, and overweight prevalence doubled from 23.2% to 43.1%. Immigrants in each API subgroup had lower prevalence than their US-born counterparts, with immigrants' obesity and overweight risks increasing with increasing duration of residence. During 2006–2011, obesity prevalence ranged from 3.3% for Chinese immigrants to 22.3% for the US-born Filipinos and 41.1% for the Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders. The Asian Indians, the Filipinos, and the Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders had, respectively, 3.1, 3.8, and 10.9 times higher odds of obesity than those of the Chinese adults. Compared with Chinese immigrants, the adjusted odds of obesity were 3.5–4.6 times higher for the US-born Chinese and the foreign-born Filipinos, 9 times higher for the US-born Filipinos and whites, 3.8–5.5 times higher for the US-born and foreign-born Asian Indians, and 21.9 times higher for the Native Hawaiians. Substantial ethnic heterogeneity and rising prevalence underscore the need for increased monitoring of obesity and obesity-related risk factors among API subgroups.

Duration of US Residence Is Associated With Overweight Risk in Filipino Immigrants Living in New York Metro Area

“…24 According to the National Health Interview Surveys, obesity prevalence tripled for Filipinos between 1992 and 2011. 27 Consistent with this trend are findings that Filipinos carry a disproportionate burden of both diabetes and hypertension. 26,28–34 This chronic disease burden is also supported by evidence that relative to non-Hispanic whites, Filipinos (as well other US Asian populations) carry a significantly higher risk of adverse metabolic outcomes, over the range of BMI, 35 calling for Asian-specific BMI cutoff points for defining overweight and obesity and screening for metabolic risk.…”

Contrasting Obesity-Related Beliefs and Behaviors among West and East Coast Chinese Americans

“…Although obesity rates among Asian Americans are lower than other racial groups in the United States (U.S.) [2], 11.6% as compared to 33.9% among adults over 20 years of age in the general population, weight gains are an issue for this group. A generational analysis of Chinese Americans indicates increasing rates of overweight and obesity among successive generations [3][4][5][6][7][8]. In particular, weight issues are increasingly found among younger Asians born in the United States [6].…”

“…A generational analysis of Chinese Americans indicates increasing rates of overweight and obesity among successive generations [3][4][5][6][7][8]. In particular, weight issues are increasingly found among younger Asians born in the United States [6]. Acculturation to an American diet and lifestyle increases risk of obesity for all immigrants including Chinese Americans.…”

Dietary Acculturation of Obesity Risk Reduction Behaviors in Chinese Americans

“…Also, the length of residence in the United States is positively related to weight gain (Lindberg & Stevens, 2011). In addition, the rates of overweight and obesity increase with successive generations (Demory-Luce, Morales, & Nicklas, 2005;Lutsey et al, 2008;Lv & Brown, 2010;Singh & Lin, 2013).…”