The Obesity Epidemic in Chinese American Youth?: A Literature Review and Pilot Study

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Matloff ◽  
Angela Lee ◽  
Roland Tang ◽  
Doug Brugge
Keyword(s):  
Asian Americans ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Community Health Center ◽  
Chinese American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Waiting Room ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
American Children

Despite nearly 12 million Asian Americans living in the United States and continued immigration, this increasingly substantial subpopulation has consistently been left out of national obesity studies. When included in national studies, Chinese-American children have been grouped together with other Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders or simply as “other,” yielding significantly lower rates of overweight and obesity compared to non-Asians. There is a failure to recognize the ethnic diversity of Asian Americans as well as the effect of acculturation. Results from smaller studies of Chinese American youth suggest that they are adopting lifestyles less Chinese and more Americans and that their share of disease burden is growing. We screened 142 children from the waiting room of a community health center that serves primarily recent Chinese immigrants for height, weight and demographic profile. Body Mass Index was calculated and evaluated using CDC growth charts. Overall, 30.1 percent of children were above the 85th we found being male and being born in the U .S. to be statistically significant for BMI > 85th percentile (p=0.039, p=0.001, respectively). Our results suggest that being overweight in this Chinese American immigrant population is associated with being born in the U.S. A change in public policy and framework for research are required to accurately assess the extent of overweight and obesity in Chinese American children. In particular, large scale data should be stratified by age, sex, birthplace and measure of acculturation to identify those at risk and construct tailored interventions.

Psychosocial Consequences of Body Weight and Obesity

2018 ◽  
pp. 274-286
Author(s):  
Deborah Carr ◽  
Vera K. Tsenkova
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Integrative Health ◽  
Psychosocial Consequences ◽  
Adults And Children

The body weight of U.S. adults and children has risen markedly over the past three decades. The physical health consequences of obesity are widely documented, and emerging research from the Midlife in the United States study and other large-scale surveys reveals the harmful impact of obesity on adults’ psychosocial and interpersonal well-being. This chapter synthesizes recent research on the psychosocial implications of body weight, with attention to explanatory mechanisms and subgroup differences in these patterns. A brief statistical portrait of body weight is provided, documenting rates and correlates of obesity, with a focus on race, gender, and socioeconomic status disparities. The consequences of body weight for three main outcomes are described: institutional and everyday discrimination, interpersonal relationships, and psychological well-being. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the ways that recent integrative health research on the psychosocial consequences of overweight and obesity inform our understanding of population health.

scholarly journals Measuring overweight and obesity in Chinese American children using US, international and ethnic-specific growth charts

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (15) ◽  
pp. 2663-2670
Author(s):  
Jennifer D Lau ◽  
Laminasti Elbaar ◽  
Eda Chao ◽  
Olivia Zhong ◽  
Chihang Ray Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Specific Growth ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Chinese American ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Obesity Prevalence ◽  
American Children ◽  
Overweight Prevalence

AbstractObjective:The aim is to determine the disparity between the overweight and obesity prevalence of Chinese American school-aged children and adolescents as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth reference and the prevalence as measured by international and ethnic-specific-growth references.Design:This retrospective, cross-sectional study measured overweight and obesity prevalence among a paediatric population using the CDC, International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), World Health Organization (WHO) and an ethnic Chinese growth curve.Setting:A community health centre in New York City, USA.Participants:Chinese American children aged 6–17 years in 2017 (N 9160).Results:The overweight prevalence was 24 % (CDC), 23 % (IOTF), 30 % (WHO) and 31 % (China). The obesity prevalence was 10 % (CDC), 5 % (IOTF), 10 % (WHO) and 10 % (China). When disaggregated by age and sex, the difference was the most prominent in girls; using the China reference compared with using the CDC reference almost doubles the overweight prevalence (school-aged: 31 v. 17 %, P < 0·001, adolescent: 27 v. 14 %, P < 0·001) and the obesity prevalence (school-aged: 11 v. 5 %, P < 0·001, adolescent: 7 v. 4 %, P < 0·001).Conclusions:Use of the CDC reference compared with the Chinese ethnic-specific reference results in lower overweight and obesity prevalence in Chinese American girls. Almost half of the girls who were overweight and half of the girls who were obese were not identified using the CDC reference. Using ethnic-specific references or ethnic-specific cut-points may help improve overweight identification for Chinese American children.

The Obesity Epidemic: What does it mean to the PeriAnesthesia Practitioner?

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 84-90
Author(s):  
Kathleen J. Menard
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Information Network ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Control Information ◽  
Control And Prevention

AbstractAlexander and Liston coined the term ‘Obesogenic society – where people are addicted to fast foods and supermarkets and a sedentary lifestyle promoted by television and cars’ [Alexander and Liston, 2006, p. 1167]. It is an undeniable fact that the United States has an overweight and obesity problem, the prevalence has doubled since 1960, the latest statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report obesity (body mass index (BMI)⩾30) in adult men (33.3%) and adult women (35.3%) and more than 66% of adult Americans are considered overweight [CDC (Department of Health and Human Services), 2008]. Extreme obesity has increased from 0.8% to 4.9% [Bellaret al, 2008]. Visit the CDC website athttp://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/index.htmfor a very graphic slide show of the ‘fatting of America.’The Weight Control Information Network classifies obesity as a chronic illness with an annual $117 billion cost (Weight-control Information Network (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)), 2007). In 2003, obesity was the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States [Garza, 2003]; it is now on the way to surpassing smoking [Abir and Bell, 2004]. But it is not just a problem in the United States; it is becoming a worldwide problem. What does this obesity epidemic mean to the PeriAnesthesia practitioner?

THE SUINN-LEW ASIAN SELF-IDENTITY ACCULTURATION SCALE: TEST WITH A NON-STUDENT, ASIAN-AMERICAN SAMPLE

1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiretta F. Ownbey ◽  
Patricia E. Horridge
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Major Trend

Ethnic diversity is a major trend in the United States with Asian Americans constituting a rapidly growing percentage of the population. Consequently, acculturation among Asian-Americans is an important issue since ethnic diversity both offers cultural richness and contributes to challenges for educational systems, public health services, and entities concerned with consumer practices. The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation (SL-ASIA) Scale was tested with a non-student, random sample (N = 124) comprised of Chinese- and Filipino-Americans 18 years old and older who lived in San Francisco. Resulting data confirmed results of an initial study of the SL-ASIA; the test scores resulted in acceptable reliability measures and the instrument contains items which are promising for accurate measurement of acculturation level among Asian-American populations.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Chinese American Children in New York City

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 337-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loretta Au ◽  
Kenny Kwong ◽  
Jolene C. Chou ◽  
Alan Tso ◽  
Mei Wong
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
York City ◽  
Chinese American ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
American Children

Translation

2019 ◽  
pp. 72-95
Author(s):  
Russell M. Jeung ◽  
Seanan S. Fong ◽  
Helen Jin Kim
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Popular Religion ◽  
Chinese American ◽  
Chinese Americans ◽  
The United States ◽  
Immigrant Parents ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Chinese American Families ◽  
American Children

Chapter 4 reveals that immigrant parents had mixed success in translating the liyi practices of Chinese Popular Religion to their Chinese American children due to four major barriers. First, Chinese American families transmitted practices by modeling rituals without explaining them. The second generation performed customs without fully understanding the symbols and meanings. Second, the dissonant acculturation between parents and children led the second generation to be more Americanized and less receptive to traditional, hierarchical values. Third, Christian dominance and privilege in the United States rendered Chinese practices exotic and superstitious. Fourth, gendered and racialized experiences “othered” Chinese traditions as foreign and outdated. In spite of these barriers, Chinese Americans distilled and hybridized what was most important to them from these practices to sustain familism.

Obesity and Nutritional Disorders

2016 ◽  
pp. 185-190
Author(s):  
Ryan T. Hurt
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Prader Willi Syndrome ◽  
Gene Variants ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Hypothalamic Regulation ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing in the United States and the westernized world. The cause of the recent obesity epidemic involves a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Specific, rare genetic disruptions of the hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis pathways can cause obesity (eg, Prader-Willi syndrome). Most cases of obesity result from a group of gene variants exposed to environmental factors. The 2 major environmental factors that contribute to overweight and obesity are excess caloric intake and low physical activity.

Preemption and the Obesity Epidemic: State and Local Menu Labeling Laws and the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 772-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lainie Rutkow ◽  
Jon S. Vernick ◽  
James G. Hodge ◽  
Stephen P. Teret
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Nutrition Labeling ◽  
Menu Labeling ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Education Act ◽  
State And Local ◽  
American Children

Worldwide, obesity has become a major cause of preventable death, disease, and disability. While the epidemic of obesity is a significant public health issue in many developed nations, the United States has the highest prevalence of obesity among adults and children internationally. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) estimates that over 60 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “overweight” refers to adults whose body mass index (BMI), a number calculated using weight and height measurements, is between 25 and 29.9. “Obese” refers to adults whose BMI is 30 or higher. Among American children and adolescents, approximately 17 percent are overweight.

scholarly journals Racial Diversity and Union Organizing in the United States, 1999--2008

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
John-Paul Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Racial Diversity ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Other ◽  
Racially Diverse ◽  
Quit Rate

Does racial diversity make it harder to form a union? Case studies giveconflicting answers, and little large-scale research on the questionexists. Most quantitative research on race and unionization studies trendsin membership rather than the outcome of specific organizing drives, andassumes that the main problem is mistrust between workers and unions,paying less attention for example to the role of employers. I explore therole of racial and ethnic diversity in the outcomes of nearly 7,000organizing drives launched between 1999 and 2008. By matching the NationalLabor Relations Board’s information on union activity with the EqualEmployment Opportunity Commission’s surveys of large establishments, Ireconstruct the demographic composition of the work groups involved in eachmobilization. I find that more diverse establishments are less likely tosee successful organizing attempts. However, I find little evidence thatthis is because workers are less interested in voting for unions. Instead,I find that the organizers of more diverse units are more likely to give upbefore such elections are held. Furthermore, this higher quit rate can beexplained best by the other organizations involved in the organizing drive.In particular, employers are more likely to be charged with unfair laborpractices when the unit in question is more racially diverse. This effectpersists when controlling for heterogeneity among industries, unions andregions.

scholarly journals Designing Effective Health Education Interventions for Preventing Obesity in South Asian Americans

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Sharma
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Education ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
South Asian Americans ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Behavioral Theories

South Asian Americans constitute the fastest growing immigrant group in the United States. Overweight (adults: 38% - 57%, children: 18% - 43%) and obesity (24%) rates in Asian Americans are increasing and not even a single health education intervention has been designed for this group in this regard. The purpose of this study was to identify culturally-relevant determinants that influence obesity and overweight among South Asian Americans and develop a set of recommendations for designing culturally-appropriate interventions for this group. The modifiable determinants for overweight and obesity in South Asian Americans were found to be physical inactivity, dietary behaviors (consuming large portion sizes, less consumption of fruits and vegetables, large consumption of sweetened beverages), watching TV for long hours on a sustained basis, acculturation to the US, poor family communication, less social support, less social integration, stress, and longer years of living in the United States. There is need for interventions both for children in school settings utilizing parental involvement and for adults in community settings utilizing local religious organizations. Culturally robust behavioral theories need to be utilized with this subpopulation.

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