title: A comparison of lifestyle and behavioral cardiovascular disease risk factors between Asian Indian and White non-Hispanic men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared lifestyle CVD risk factors between Asian Indian and White non-Hispanic men within categories of BMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 51,901 White non-Hispanic men and 602 Asian Indian men enrolled in the California Men's Health Study cohort. Men were aged 45-69 years and members of Kaiser Permanente Southern or Northern California at baseline (2001-2002).
  
  
  METHODS
  Lifestyle characteristics including diet, physical activity, alcohol intake and smoking were collected from a survey. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asian Indians more often reported a healthy BMI (18.5-24.9), and consumed < 30% calories from fat within each BMI category (healthy weight and overweight/obese). Among healthy weight men, Asian Indians were less likely to eat -5 fruit and vegetables a day. Overall, Asian Indians were more likely to have never smoked and to abstain from alcohol. Asian Indians were less likely to report moderate/vigorous physical activity > or = 3.5 hours/week. No differences were found in sedentary activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified health behaviors that were protective (lower fat intake, lower levels of smoking and alcohol) and harmful (lower levels of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake) for cardiovascular health among the Asian Indians in comparison to White non-Hispanics. Results stratified by BMI were similar to those overall. However, the likelihood of consuming a low fat diet was lower among healthy weight men, while fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and alcohol intake was greater. These results suggest risk factors other than lifestyle behaviors may be important contributors to CVD in the Asian Indian population.
authors: Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA. Nirupa.R.Ghai@kp.org
authors: Nirupa R
authors: NR
authors: Ghai
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Jacobsen
authors: Stephen K
authors: SK
authors: Van Den Eeden
authors: Ameena T
authors: AT
authors: Ahmed
authors: Reina
authors: R
authors: Haque
authors: George G
authors: GG
authors: Rhoads
authors: Virginia P
authors: VP
authors: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002140:California; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*