|
The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
icddr,b
ISSN: 1606-0997 EISSN: 1606-0997
Vol. 38, No. 1, 2019, pp. 1-9
|
Bioline Code: hn19010
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
|
|
The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Vol. 38, No. 1, 2019, pp. 1-9
en |
Association between environmental factors and BMI: evidence from recent immigrants from developing countries
Katare, Bhagyashree & Chakrovorty, Sanchita
Abstract
Background: To study the association between the surrounding local environmental factors and the body mass
index of immigrants in the USA.
Methods: We use the New Immigrant Survey, to study the association of obesity prevalence in a region on body
mass index. We consider local obesity rate as an outcome of the local environmental factors. Using ordinary least
squares, three versions of equations are estimated to quantify the contribution of individual-level, acculturation, and
environmental effects on immigrants’ body mass index.
Results: We find statistically significant results for the correlation of local obesity rate and body mass index. For
every 1% increase in the obesity rate, the body mass index levels increase by 0.182 kg/m2. Evidence also suggests
dietary assimilation in immigrants is influenced by local environmental factors and that dietary change affects body
mass index of female immigrants.
Conclusions: Immigrants’ body mass index increase with the increase in the local obesity rate of the region where
they reside.
Keywords
Immigrants; BMI; Obesity
|
|
© Copyright 2019 - The Author(s) Alternative site location: http://www.jhpn.net
|
|