title: The association of religiosity with overweight/obese body mass index among Asian Indian immigrants in California.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the association between religiosity and overweight or obese body mass index among a multi-religious group of Asian Indian immigrants residing in California.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined cross-sectional survey data obtained from in-language telephone interviews with 3228 mostly immigrant Asian Indians in the 2004 California Asian Indian Tobacco Survey using multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High self-identified religiosity was significantly associated with higher BMI after adjusting for socio-demographic and acculturation measures. Highly religious Asian Indians had 1.53 greater odds (95% CI: 1.18, 2.00) of being overweight or obese than low religiosity immigrants, though this varied by religious affiliation. Religiosity was associated with greater odds of being overweight/obese for Hindus (OR 1.54; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.22) and Sikhs (OR 1.88; 95% CI: 1.07, 3.30), but not for Muslims (OR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.28, 1.70).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Religiosity in Hindus and Sikhs, but not immigrant Muslims, appears to be independently associated with greater body mass index among Asian Indians. If this finding is confirmed, future research should identify potentially mutable mechanisms by which religion-specific religiosity affects overweight/obesity risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: nbharmal@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Nazleen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bharmal
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Martin F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kagawa-Singer
authors.forename: Mitchell D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mangione
authors.forename: Hozefa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Divan
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018596:Hinduism / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asian Indian; Obesity; Religiosity