title: Association between acculturation, obesity and cardiovascular risk factors among male South Asian migrants in the United Arab Emirates--a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 65% of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population are economic migrants from the low- and middle-income countries of South Asia. Emerging evidence suggests that expatriate populations from low or middle-income countries that migrate to high-income countries acculturate their lifestyle with the obesogenic behaviours of the host country. Previous research has focussed on migrant populations in the United States. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of obesity and explore the relationship between years of residency (surrogate measure for acculturation) and obesity among South Asian (from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) male immigrants residing in the UAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1375 males was recruited from a mandatory residency visa health screening centre in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Employing a cross-sectional design, participants completed an interviewer-led adapted version of the World Health Organisation STEPS questionnaire, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were collected. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured in a random sub-sample (n = 100). Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for being classified as obese, and to assess the relationship between years of residency and adiposity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of body mass index-derived overweight and obesity estimates and waist-to-hip-derived central obesity rates was 615 (44.7%) and 917 (66.7%) males, respectively. Hypertension was present in 419 (30.5%) of the sample and diabetes in 9 (9.0%) of the sub-sample. Living in the UAE for six to 10 years or more than 10 years was independently associated with being classified with central obesity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.63 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.13 - 2.35, p < 0.008; AOR 1.95 95% CI 1.26 - 3.01, p < 0.002; respectively) compared to residing in the UAE for one to five years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed a high prevalence of overweight, central obesity and hypertension amongst a young South Asian male migrant population in the UAE. Study findings suggest a diminished 'Healthy Migrant Effect' with increased years of residency possibly due to greater acculturation and a transition in lifestyle behaviours. Health initiatives targeting the maintenance of a healthy body size, coupled with regular assessments of glucose control and blood pressure are urgently required in this population.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. syeds@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Syed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. tom.loney@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Loney
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Health Services, SEHA, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. smaldhaheri@ahs.ae.
authors.forename: Salma Al
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dhaheri
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Nutrition and Pharmacy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada. vatan.h@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vatanparast
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. ielbarazi@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Iffat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elbarazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. magarwal@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. iain_blair@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Raghib.ali@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Raghib
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States