Pre-Acculturation as a Risk Factor for Obesity: Findings from the Health of Philippine Emigrants Study (HoPES)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bacong A ; Crespi C ; de Castro AB ; Gee GC ; Hing A ; Llave K ; Wang M
• Description:
  Immigrants to the United States may have an advantage in terms of healthier weight, but tend to gain excessive weight after arrival, and may suffer from obesity and related health conditions. Acculturation theory suggests that this increase in obesity risk is due to adoption of unhealthy western dietary behaviors, and assumes that "eastern/traditional" dietary behaviors prior to migration are healthier. While this assumption is supported by studies conducted several decades ago, the phenomenon of globalization that has risen since the 1990s has increased exposure to western ideas and behaviors in communities worldwide. Hence, today's immigrants are more likely to have already adopted less healthy behaviors that increase obesity risk prior to their arrival in the U.S., a phenomenon we term "pre-acculturation." The present study investigates the role of pre-acculturation in obesity development among immigrants from the Philippines. Data come from the Health of Philippine Emigrants Study, fielded in 2017 (n = 1632). Pre-acculturation was measured with English proficiency, preparation to migrate, receiving care packages, texting, telephone, or internet contact with friends/family in the U.S. Outcomes included the body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), waist circumference (WC, cm), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR). Covariates included age, gender, education, financial strain, physical activity, and diet. Migrants reported greater English proficiency, preparation, and a slightly lower WHtR than non-migrants, but did not differ on BMI, WC, or WHR. Preparation was associated with greater BMI, WC, and WHtR, and the effects of preparation status differed by migration status. Among migrants, more preparation was associated with greater BMI, WC, and WtHR. Further, among non-migrants, texting and telephone communications was related to lower BMI, WC, and WHR. In summary, pre-acculturation may be a risk factor for obesity in the Philippines, suggesting that binary notions of "Western" versus "eastern/traditional" cultures may be too simplistic. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Body Weight Cohort Studies Occupational Health Safety Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Immigration BMI Body Mass Index Body Weight Cohort Studies Dietary Effects Health Surveys International Nutrition Obesity Theory

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• ISSN:
  2352-8273
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063851
• Citation:
  SSM Popul Health 2019 Dec; 9:100482
• Contact Point Address:
  Gilbert C. Gee, University of California, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health 650 Charles E, Young Drive South Room. 46-081c, Los Angeles, CA, USA
• Email:
  gilgee@ucla.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  SSM - Population Health
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:920571651ae6f175ca649ec097bf26c86467163a407ea743314978d2c92b823e07892d076ea4b79a02e8a6d163b4a7f0685f995745753c6e055ec88ba68acb1f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222397/cdc_222397_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 674.97 KB ]