title: Change in waist circumference with longer time in the United States among Hispanic and Chinese immigrants: the modifying role of the neighborhood built environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined whether living in neighborhoods supportive of healthier diets and more active lifestyles may buffer immigrants against the unhealthy weight gain that is purported to occur with longer length of US residence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neighborhood data referring to a 1-mile buffer around participants' baseline home addresses were linked to longitudinal data from 877 Hispanic and 684 Chinese immigrants aged 45 to 84 years in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. We used ethnicity-stratified linear mixed models to examine whether food and activity-based neighborhood measures (healthy food stores, walkability, and recreational facilities) were associated with change in waist circumference (WC) over a 9-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among Hispanics, living in neighborhoods with more resources for healthy food and recreational activity was related to lower baseline WC. However, there was no association with change in WC over time. Among Chinese, living in more walkable neighborhoods was associated with lower baseline WC and with slower increases in WC over time, especially among the most recent immigrant arrivals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Where immigrants reside may have implications for health patterns that emerge with longer time in the United States.
authors: Department of Nutrition, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill. Electronic address: ssalb@unc.edu.
authors: Sandra S
authors: SS
authors: Albrecht
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors: Theresa L
authors: TL
authors: Osypuk
authors: Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
authors: Namratha R
authors: NR
authors: Kandula
authors: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
authors: Linda C
authors: LC
authors: Gallo
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors: Félice
authors: F
authors: Lê-Scherban
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors: Sandi
authors: S
authors: Shrager
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors: Ana V
authors: AV
authors: Diez Roux
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011633:Public Facilities; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: Acculturation; Immigrants; Longitudinal; Neighborhood; Waist circumference