title: Heterogeneity in obesity status and cardiovascular risks in multiethnic Asian female immigrants in South Korea.
abstract: The present study investigated the prevalence of obesity and the associated health conditions of multiethnic Asian female immigrants in Korea. Data were collected from 2246 immigrant wives in 7 largest ethnic groups in a national health examination program. The mean body mass index was 21.9 ± 3.3 kg/m(2). Prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m(2)) among immigrant women was 15.4%. Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity varied among groups by native country (from 10.4% for Japanese to 36.3% for Thai women). The likelihood of obesity significantly increased with years of residence in Korea (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44 for 5.0-9.9 years; 1.85 for ≥10 years), physical inactivity (OR = 1.84), and eating spicy and/or salty food (OR = 1.45). Prevalence of chronic health conditions also differed by country of origin. Significant associations were observed between obesity and elevated blood pressure (OR = 1.87), obesity and elevated cholesterol level (OR = 2.83), and obesity and prediabetes/diabetes (OR = 2.44) after adjusting for age, country of origin, and years of residence in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seunghyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul, Korea hkkim@kahp.or.kr.
authors.forename: Hyekyeong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Ik
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005006:Ethnicity; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires