Using appropriate body mass index cut points for overweight and obesity among Asian Americans

Abstract

Objective Asian Americans have low prevalence of overweight/obesity based on standard BMI cut points yet have higher rates of diabetes. We examined the prevalence of overweight/obesity, using lower BMI cut points recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for Asians, and diabetes in Asian American subgroups in California. Method Secondary analysis of the 2009 adult California Health Interview Survey (n = 45,946) of non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), African Americans, Hispanics and Asians (Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, South Asian and Japanese). WHO Asian BMI cut points (overweight = 23–27.5 kg/m2; obese ≥ 27.5 kg/m2) were used for Asian subgroups. Standard BMI cut points (overweight = 25–29.9 kg/m2; obese ≥ 30 kg/m2) were applied for other groups. Results Among Asian subgroups, overweight/obesity was highest among Filipinos (78.6%), which was higher than NHWs (p < 0.001) but similar to African Americans and Hispanics. Compared to NHW, diabetes prevalence was higher for Vietnamese, Koreans, Filipinos and South Asians with BMI = 23–24.9 kg/m2 and Koreans, Filipinos and Japanese with BMI = 27.5–29.9 kg/m2, the ranges WHO recommends as overweight or obese for Asians but not for other groups. Conclusions Filipinos should be a priority population for overweight/obesity screening. Filipinos, Vietnamese, Korean, South Asians and Japanese have higher diabetes prevalence at lower BMI cut points. WHO Asian BMI cut points may have clinical utility to identify at-risk Asian Americans.

An economy of scales: A selective review of obesity's economic causes, consequences, and solutions

“…In the NHANES data for 2011-2012, the prevalence of obesity was 10.8% among Asian-Americans, 32.6% among non-Hispanic whites, 42.5% among Hispanics, and 47.8% among non-Hispanic blacks (Ogden et al, 2014). Some of this difference is due to the fact that BMI ignores differences in body composition, and as a result BMI understates obesity in Asian-Americans (Jih et al, 2014) and overstates it in African-Americans (Burkhauser and Cawley, 2008). Within most race/ethnic groups, the prevalence of obesity is similar for women and men, but this is not true for African-Americans, among whom the prevalence of obesity is much higher among women (56.6%) than men (37.1%) (Ogden et al, 2014).…”

Acculturation and Insulin Resistance Among US Chinese Immigrant Women

“…1,2 Weight gain after migration is common as well, 3,4 but the increase in diabetes occurs despite a generally low prevalence of overweight and obesity in this population. 1,2,5 The rapid change in risk upon migration suggests a role for acculturation-related lifestyle factors. Studies conducted among Asian immigrants to the United States, Canada, and Australia suggest poorer metabolic profiles with longer residence in adoptive countries, [6][7][8] but the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) showed no association between acculturation and diabetes among its Chinese participants.…”

Silent Brain Infarcts in Patients with Non-Specific Neurological Symptoms: 1-Year Cross-Sectional Study

“…Diabetes mellitus was defined as the fasting blood sugar level ≥ 100 mg/dL (International Diabetic Federation criteria) (10) , Dyslipidemia with serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level < 40 mg/dL, and triglyceride levels > 150 mg/dL (International diabetic Federation criteria).Body mass index (BMI)was calculated for all the patients by recording their weight and height. Obesity was defined as BMI> 30 kg/m 2 , according to WHO criteria (11) . Patients underwent a brain MRI by following the standard procedure using 1.5-Tesla MRI system (Siemens Magnetom Symphony, Siemens Medical Solutions, USA Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania).…”