title: Weighing in on the hidden Asian American obesity epidemic.
abstract: According to national estimates, obesity prevalence is lower in Asian Americans compared to other racial/ethnic groups, but this low prevalence may be misleading for three reasons. First, a lower body mass index (BMI) cutoff as proposed by the World Health Organization may be more appropriate to use in Asian populations. However, evidence is limited to substantiate the potential costs and burden of adopting these cutoffs. Increasing BMI in Asians (as in other racial/ethnic groups) should be considered across the spectrum of BMI, with a minimum awareness of these lower cutoffs among healthcare researchers. Second, the need for disaggregated data across Asian American subgroups is illustrated by the higher obesity (and diabetes) prevalence estimates observed in South Asian Americans. Third, prevalence of obesity should be placed in the larger context of immigration and globalization through cross-national comparisons and examination of acculturation-related factors. However these types of studies and collection of salient variables are not routinely performed. Data from a metropolitan area where many Asian Americans settle is presented as a case study to illustrate these points. Clear evidence that incorporates these three considerations is necessary for program planning and resource allocation for obesity-related disparities in this rapidly growing and diverse population.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Ave., VZN 8th Floor, #844, New York, NY 10016, United States. Electronic address: stella.yi@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Stella S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Ave., VZN 8th Floor, #844, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Simona C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Ave., VZN 8th Floor, #844, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Ave., VZN 8th Floor, #844, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Ave., VZN 8th Floor, #844, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Chau
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trinh-Shevrin
mesh_terms: D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058872:Epidemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Acculturation; Asian Americans; Obesity