Acculturation, physical activity, and fast-food consumption among Asian-American and Hispanic adolescents.
Previous studies have implicated acculturation to the US as a risk factor for unhealthy behaviors among Hispanic and Asian-American adolescents, including substance use, violence, and unsafe sex. This study examined the association between acculturation and obesity-related behaviors-physical activity and fast-food consumption-among 619 Asian-American and 1385 Hispanic adolescents in Southern California. Respondents completed surveys in 6th and 7th grade. The 6th grade survey assessed acculturation with the AHIMSA acculturation scale and a measure of English language usage. The 7th grade survey assessed frequency of moderate-to-intense physical activity and frequency of eating fast-food. Multiple regression analyses included acculturation and demographic covariates as predictors of physical activity and fast-food consumption. Acculturation to the US, assessed in 6th grade, was significantly associated with a lower frequency of physical activity participation and a higher frequency of fast-food consumption in 7th grade. The significant associations persisted after controlling for covariates and were consistent across gender and ethnic groups. Results suggest that acculturation to the US is a risk factor for obesity-related behaviors among Asian-American and Hispanic adolescents. Health promotion programs are needed to encourage physical activity and healthy diets among adolescents in acculturating families.
Unger
Jennifer B
JB
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Alhambra, CA 91803, USA. unger@usc.edu
Reynolds
Kim
K
Shakib
Sohaila
S
Spruijt-Metz
Donna
D
Sun
Ping
P
Johnson
C Anderson
CA
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population