Immigrant generation, socioeconomic status, and economic development of countries of origin: A longitudinal study of body mass index among children

Hook, Jennifer Van; Balistreri, Kelly Stamper

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.04.032

Cited by 80 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This suggests that among non-Hispanic white children whose mothers work intensely higher income is associated with higher percentile BMI. This trend is well documented in the literature for native non-Hispanic white children [12,28]. In addition, family income is negatively associated with percentile BMI for non-Hispanic white children whose mothers did not work continuously during middle childhood, as shown by the significant negative coefficient for main effect of income.…”

Section: Analytic Strategysupporting

confidence: 72%

“…But for Mexican American youths, the association between SES and overweight is not clear [25]. Among Hispanic children of immigrants, the relationship between income and overweight is positive, although the odds of overweight tend to level off at average income and even decrease at higher levels [28]. Maternal employment among children of immigrants may be especially detrimental if higher family income does not compensate for (and may add to) the potential drawbacks associated with reduced parental supervision.…”

Section: Generational Differences In the Association Of Maternal Emplmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Maternal Employment and Overweight Among Hispanic Children of Immigrants and Children of Natives

Baker

Balistreri

Hook

2007

J Immigrant Minority Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This research examines the relationship between maternal employment and child overweight among fifth grade Hispanic and non-Hispanic white children. Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten (ECLS-K) cohort fifth grade sample (N = 4,360) were analyzed. OLS regression models were estimated predicting percentile BMI as a function of maternal employment, ethnicity, parental nativity status, income, and the interactions of employment, ethnicity/nativity, and income. Among Hispanic children of immigrants, maternal employment is associated with lower percentile BMI and this association strengthens at higher levels of income. Among Hispanic children of natives and non-Hispanic whites, maternal employment is beneficial (i.e. associated with lower percentile BMI) among low-income children but detrimental among high-income children, but this pattern is significantly greater in strength for Hispanics than nonHispanic whites. Thus, maternal employment is associated with worse health outcomes only in the case of Hispanic children of natives, and maternal employment is associated with the best outcomes for Hispanic children of mothers from high-income families. We speculate that among children of immigrants, maternal employment may signify and/or accelerate assimilation towards middle-or upper-class American values of healthy weight and body size. Diet, meal regularity and supervision, and childcare did not mediate the relationship between maternal employment and overweight.

show abstract

Section: Analytic Strategysupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Generational Differences In the Association Of Maternal Emplmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Employment and Overweight Among Hispanic Children of Immigrants and Children of Natives

Baker

Balistreri

Hook

2007

J Immigrant Minority Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increased in children of immigrant parents and/or of parents with a low educational level (EL) [35,36]. Children of recently arrived immigrant parents, particularly boys, tend to weight more and are at greater risk of overweight than native children [37][38][39]. Conversely, a recent study on children living in Italy [40] found that the BMI was lower in children of immigrant mothers than in those of Italian mothers (significantly lower in daughters).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors of overweight and obesity among preschool children with different ethnic background

Toselli

Zaccagni

Celenza³

et al. 2014

Endocrine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this study, we evaluated the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in 2,640 preschool children in Italy taking into account the ethnic background of the parents. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Personal and lifestyle data for the children (birth weight, type of breastfeeding, sleep duration, skipping breakfast, snacking, physical activity) and parents (ethnicity, educational level, occupation, weight, height) were collected by means of a questionnaire. Italian and Other European children generally showed the highest percentage of normal weight, while the other ethnic groups presented a greater imbalance. Overweight and obesity were high in African males, who also presented high birth weight. Breastfeeding was most common, although formula feeding was significantly higher in Italians than in immigrants. Immigrants, particularly males, tended to skip breakfast more than Italians. Physical activity was significantly higher in Italians than in immigrants. In the parents, underweight was particularly high in Italian and Other mothers. African parents had high rates of overweight and obesity and a low educational level. The most common profession was worker for the fathers and housewife for the mothers, with the exception of Italians in which clerical work prevailed. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the BMI of children was closely related to the BMI of the parents and the birth weight. Hence, these are the most informative parameters in preventing obesity.

show abstract

“…Sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary behaviors are often used as explanations for the rise in obesity in the USA and worldwide. 7 These mechanisms are seen as modifiable risk factors that could assist in reversing the obesity pandemic. However, these risk factors are more concentrated in disadvantaged populations within the USA, particularly in households with low financial and social capital, as well as racial and ethnic minority families.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Residential Mobility and Trajectories of Adiposity among Adolescents in Urban and Non-urban Neighborhoods

Jones

2015

J Urban Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Using data from the 1994-2008 National Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Add Health), this research examines the relationship between residential mobility and weight gain over time among urban and non-urban young adults. It is theorized that changes in residence act as a barrier to achieving an active lifestyle, which would increase an individual's body mass index (BMI) over time. Relying on linear mixed-effects growth curve models, the results indicate that mobility is protective against weight gain over time after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. For young adults who are residentially stable in urban neighborhoods, increases in physical activity are associated with a linear decline in BMI. In non-urban areas where respondents are residentially mobile, body weight does not fluctuate as sedentary behavior increases. However, in those areas, weight increases as sedentary behavior increases for those who did not move. Overall, the results suggest that the effect of mobility on weight gain is partially due to the kind of health behaviors that one engages in as well as whether or not one lives in an urban area. Policies geared toward relocating residents (such as Moving to Opportunity), and neighborhood processes that can lead individuals to change residences (such as foreclosures or gentrification) may have adverse health effects depending on whether they are occurring in urban or non-urban areas.

show abstract

Immigrant generation, socioeconomic status, and economic development of countries of origin: A longitudinal study of body mass index among children

Cited by 80 publications

References 37 publications

Maternal Employment and Overweight Among Hispanic Children of Immigrants and Children of Natives

Maternal Employment and Overweight Among Hispanic Children of Immigrants and Children of Natives

Risk factors of overweight and obesity among preschool children with different ethnic background

Residential Mobility and Trajectories of Adiposity among Adolescents in Urban and Non-urban Neighborhoods

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About