TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between acculturation, obesity and cardiovascular risk factors among male South Asian migrants in the United Arab Emirates - A cross-sectional study
AU - Shah, Syed M.
AU - Loney, Tom
AU - Dhaheri, Salma Al
AU - Vatanparast, Hassan
AU - Elbarazi, Iffat
AU - Agarwal, Mukesh Mansha
AU - Blair, Iain
AU - Ali, Raghib
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the United Arab Emirates University (Grant No. NP09-30). We would like to thank all participants and investigators in this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Shah et al.; licensee BioMed Central.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Acculturation
KW - Adiposity
KW - Cardiovascular diseases
KW - Obesity
KW - Transients and migrants
KW - United Arab Emirates
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U2 - 10.1186/s12889-015-1568-x
DO - 10.1186/s12889-015-1568-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 25885030
AN - SCOPUS:84924953897
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 15
JO - BMC public health
JF - BMC public health
IS - 1
M1 - 204
ER -