title: The immigrant paradox and adolescent obesity: examining health behaviors as potential mediators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adolescent obesity is a national public health concern with significant immediate and long-term health consequences. Certain social groups in the United States, such as immigrant adolescents, have been identified as particularly vulnerable to overweight and obesity. A pattern of results coined the "immigrant paradox" that refers to the phenomenon wherein obesity is less prevalent in first-generation immigrant youth when compared with second- and third-generation peers. Seeking to better understand this concerning trend, this study examined the mediating role of several health behaviors on the relation between generation status and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 2292 Latino immigrant adolescents and emerging adults enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple linear regression models indicated that sedentary behaviors partially mediated the relation between generation status and BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate the unique role that sedentary behaviors play in explaining weight gain among Latino immigrants.
authors: Department of Psychology, Suffolk University, Boston, MA.
authors: Mary Beth
authors: MB
authors: McCullough
authors: Amy K
authors: AK
authors: Marks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult