title: The relationship between select demographic characteristics and body mass index among Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander caregiving adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the world. We identified the proportion of our NHOPI sample in each body mass index (BMI) category and explored relationships between BMI and demographic characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our descriptive correlational study included 364 NHOPI caregiver adults in Utah (n = 155) and Hawaii (n = 209). We gathered demographic information with a questionnaire. Height and weight were measured for BMI calculations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's BMI categories, 84.3% of our sample was overweight or obese. Participants in Utah had significantly higher BMIs than participants in Hawaii. Educational attainment was inversely related with BMI; however, age, gender, and income were not significantly related with BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NHOPIs on the U.S. mainland may be at greater risk for obesity than those in Hawaii; food price differences between locations may help explain this. NHOPIs in early adulthood had high BMIs; overtime this situation could worsen without intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NHOPIs with low education levels or in areas of low food prices are at increased risk for obesity. Future research should focus on culturally sensitive interventions to reduce NHOPI obesity and associated risks.
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Katrina L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA jane_lassetter@byu.edu.
authors.forename: Jane H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lassetter
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: VanServellen
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Lora Beth
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Sharla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alleger
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Jaclyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Arielle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muffler
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Shemnon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Va
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mounga
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Laie, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goodwill
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Laie, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Laie, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanohano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders; body mass index; community health; demographics; obesity; transcultural health