Immigration and generational trends in body mass index and obesity in the United States: results of the National Latino and Asian American Survey, 2002-2003

Abstract

Objectives: We examined patterns of body mass index (BMI) and obesity among a nationally representative sample of first-, second-, and third-generation Latinos and Asian Americans to reveal associations with nativity or country of origin.

Methods: We used data from the National Latino and Asian American Survey (2002-2003) to generate nationally representative estimates of mean BMI and obesity prevalence and explored changes in the distribution of BMI by generational status. Analyses tested the association between generational status and BMI and examined whether this association varied by ethnicity, education, or gender.

Results: We found substantial heterogeneity in BMI and obesity by country of origin and an increase in BMI in later generations among most subgroups. The data suggest different patterns for Latinos and Asian Americans in the nature and degree of distributional changes in BMI with generational status in the United States.

Conclusions: Generational status is associated with increased BMI and obesity among Latinos and Asian Americans. Aggregate estimates not accounting for nativity and country of origin may mask significant heterogeneity in the prevalence of obesity and patterns of distributional change, with implications for prevention strategies.

Figures

FIGURE 1—

Tukey mean-difference plots of distributions of body mass index (BMI) among Latinos, comparing (a) second with first generation and (b) third with second generation: National Latino and Asian American Survey, 2002–2003. Note. The value on the x-axis equals the mean value of the BMI for the 2 groups being compared at a given percentile (2nd through 98th). The difference in these 2 BMI values is plotted on the y-axis.

FIGURE 2—

Tukey mean-difference plots of distributions of body mass index (BMI) among Asian Americans, comparing (a) second with first generation and (b) third with second generation: National Latino and Asian American Survey, 2002–2003. Note. The value on the x-axis equals the mean value of the BMI for the 2 groups being compared at a given percentile (2nd through 98th). The difference in these 2 BMI values is plotted on the y-axis.