title: Ethnic Differences in Risk Factors for Obesity among Adults in California, the United States.
abstract: Little attention has been given to differences in obesity risk factors by racial/ethnic groups. Using data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey, we examined differences in risk factors for obesity among Whites, Latinos, Asians, and African Americans among 42,935 adults (24.8% obese). Estimates were weighted to ensure an unbiased representation of the Californian population. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the differences in risk factors for obesity. Large ethnic disparities were found in obesity prevalence: Whites (22.0%), Latinos (33.6%), African Americans (36.1%), and Asians (9.8%). Differences in risk factors for obesity were also observed: Whites (gender, age, physical activity, smoking, arthritis, and diabetes medicine intake), Latinos (age, arthritis, and diabetes medicine intake), Asians (age, binge drinking, arthritis, and diabetes medicine intake), and African Americans (gender, physical activity, smoking, binge drinking, and diabetes medicine intake). Females were more likely to be obese among African Americans (odds ratio (OR) = 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-1.94), but less likely among Whites (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.74-0.87). Race/ethnicity should be considered in developing obesity prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4445-8438
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8092-7126
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Southerland
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Kesheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Arsham
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3355-286X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alamian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Fisher Institute of Health and Well-Being, Systems-Oriented Global Childhood Obesity Intervention Program, Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Health, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Youfa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult