Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of Race, Acculturation, and Socioeconomic Status on Tendency Toward Overweight in Asian-American and Mexican-American Early Adolescent Females

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background Health disparities in chronic disease prevalence exist in the United States among racial/ethnic groups. This study explores relationships between physical, socioeconomic, and cultural characteristics of a multi-ethnic sample of early adolescent females which may assist health educators in designing programs targeting these groups. Methods Mexican-American and Asian-American sixth grade females (n = 144) were enrolled in Adequate Calcium Today. Physical measurements included weight, height, and BMI. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry determined percent body fat (%BF). Socioeconomic status was determined by enrollment in free or reduced meal program (FRMP). An adapted Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans-II (ARSMA-II) measured acculturation. Results Mexican-Americans had greater height, BMI, %BF, and a greater tendency toward overweight (P < 0.01) than Asian-American. Asian-Americans were more acculturated than MA (P < 0.005), attributed to a lower ethnic orientation scale score. Within Asian-Americans, %BF was higher among FRMP participants than non-participants (P < 0.05). Discussion Income and acculturation may affect tendency toward chronic disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. American Community Survey, Data Profile. U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey Office. 2003. Available from http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Profiles/Single/2003/ACS/Tabular/01 0/01000US2.htm. Accessed 30 Jan 2004.

  2. Hendrix KH, Riehle JE, Egan BM. Ethnic, gender, and age-related differences in treatment and control of dyslipidemia in hypertensive patients. Ethn Dis. 2005;15:11–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Winkleby MA, Kraemer HC, Ahn DK et al. Ethnic, socioeconomic differences in cardiovascular disease risk factors: findings for women from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994. JAMA. 1998;280:356–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Healthy People 2010. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, November 2000.

  5. Gordon-Larsen P, Adair LS, Popkin BM. The relationship of ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, and overweight in US adolescents. Obes Res. 2003;11:121–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Mazur RE, Marquis GS, Jensen HH. Diet and food insufficiency among Hispanic youths: acculturation and socioeconomic factors in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;78:1120–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Anderson RN, Smith BL. Deaths: leading causes for 2002. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2005;53:1–89.

    Google Scholar 

  8. NHANES, 1988–1994. United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD; 1988–1994. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/Anthropometric%20Measures.htm. Accessed 1 February 2005.

  9. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Coming to America: a Profile of the Nation’s Foreign Born (2000 Update); U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau; 2002.

  10. Drewonowski A, Specter SE. Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;79:6–16.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Bhargava A. Socio-economic and behavioural factors are predictors of food use in the National Food Stamp Program Survey. Br J Nutr. 2004;92:497–506.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Popkin B. Global nutrition dynamics: the world is shifting rapidly toward a diet linked with noncommunicable diseases. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84(2):289–98.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Nielsen SJ, Popkin BM. Changes in beverage intake between 1977 and 2001. Am J Prev Med. 2004;27(3):205–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Morland K, Wing S, Diez Roux A, Poole C. Neighborhood characteristic associated with the location of food stores and food service places. Am J Prev Med. 2002;22:23–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Cradock AL, Kawachi I, Colditz GA, et al. Playgound safety and access in Boston neighborhoods. Am J Prev Med. 2005;28:357–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Booth KM, Pinkston MM, Poston WS. Obesity and the built environment. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105:S110–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Dibsdall LA, Lambert N, Bobbin RF, Frewer LJ. Low-income consumers’ attitudes and behaviour towards access, availability and motivation to eat fruit and vegetables. Public Health Nutr. 2003;6:159–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Frenn M, Malin S. Diet and exercise in low-income culturally diverse middle school students. Public Health Nurs. 2003;20:361–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Block J, Scribner R, DeSalvo K. Fast food, race/ethnicity, and income: a geographic analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2004;27:211–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gordon-Larsen P, Harris KM, Ward DS, Popkin BM. Acculturation, overweight-related behaviors among Hispanic immigrants to the US: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Soc Sci Med. 2003;57:2023–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Balcazar H, Castro FG, Krull JL. Cancer risk reduction in Mexican American women: the role of acculturation, education, and health risk factors. Health Edu Quart. 1995;22:61–84.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gardner C, Winkleby MA, Viteri FE. Dietary intake patterns and acculturation levels of Hispanic immigrant men: a pilot study. Hispanic J Behav Sci. 1995;17:347–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kim J, Chan MM. Acculturation and dietary habits of Korean Americans. Br J Nutr. 2004;91:469–78.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kaplan MS, Huguet N, Newsom JT, McFarland BH. The association between length of residence and obesity among Hispanic immigrants. Am J Prev Med. 2004;27:323–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Educational Data Partnership. Students by ethnicity, district reports 2002–2003. Ed-Data; Education Data Partnership. Available from http://www.eddata. k12.ca.us. Accessed 16 May 2004.

  26. Sherman JB, Alexander MA, Dean AH, Kim M. Obesity in Mexican-American and Anglo children. Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 1995;10:27–34.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Chen JL, Kennedy C. Factors associated with obesity in Chinese-American children. Pediatr Nurs. 2005;31:110–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Unger JB, Reynolds K, Shakib S, Spruijt-Metz D, Sun P, Johnson CA. Acculturation, physical activity, and fast-food consumption among Asian-American and Hispanic adolescents. J Comm Health. 2004;29:467–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Kuczmarski PJ, Ogden CL, Grummer-Strawn LM. 2000 CDC Growth charts for the United States: methods and development. Series Report. 2000;11(246):201.

  30. Norcross J, Van Loan M. Validation of fan beam dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition assessment in adults aged 18–45 years. British J Sports Med. 2004;38:472–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Cuellar I AB, Maldonado RE. Acculturation rating for Mexican-Americans-II: a revision of the original ARSMA scale. Hispanic J Behav Sci. 1995;17:275–304.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Sorof JM, Lai D, Turner J et al. Overweight, ethnicity, and the prevalence of hypertension in school-aged children. Pediatrics. 2004;113:475–482.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Gunson P, Oppenheimer A. Latino culture sweeps across U.S. Weekly Latin American. Washington, DC: Hispanic American Center for Economic Research; 2001.

  34. Klatsky Al, Armstrong MA. Cardiovascular risk factors among Asian Americans living in northern California. Am L Public Health. 1991;81:1423–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Park YW, Allison DB, Heymsfield SB, Gallagher D. Larger amounts of several adipose tissue in Asian Americans. Obes Res. 2001;9:381–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. De Stavola BL, dos Santos Silva I, McCormack V et al. Childhood growth and breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 2004;159:671–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Goel MS, McCarthy EP, Phillips RS, Wee CC. Obesity among US immigrant subgroups by duration of residence. JAMA. 2004;292:2860–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Shrama S, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, et al. Adherence to the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations among African Americans and Latins: results from the multiethnic cohort. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:1873–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Harrison GG, Kagawa-Singer M, Foester SB, et al. Seizing the Moment: California’s opportunity to prevent nutrition-related health disparities in low-income Asian American populations. Asian American Network for cancer Awareness, Research, and Training 9AANCART): fifth Asian American Cancer Control Academy. Cancer. (Suppl) 2005;104:2962–8.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The project was supported by the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems Program (IFAFS) of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, award number 00-52102-9696.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, USA

    Sara E. Schaefer

  2. Department of Education, University of California, Davis, USA

    Melissa Salazar

  3. Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, USA

    Christine Bruhn

  4. Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Dennis Saviano & Carol Boushey

  5. USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center, University of California, 430 West Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Marta D. Van Loan

Authors
  1. Sara E. Schaefer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Melissa Salazar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christine Bruhn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dennis Saviano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carol Boushey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Marta D. Van Loan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marta D. Van Loan.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Modified ARSMA II statements and groupings for subscales

Items

  

Subscale group name

1. I speak [ethnic language]*

  

Language

2. I speak English

  

3. I enjoy speaking [ethnic language]*

  

4. I enjoy speaking English

  

5. I enjoy listening to [ethnic language] radio stations

  

6. I enjoy listening to English language radio stations

  

7. I enjoy TV shows spoken in [ethnic language]

  

8. I enjoy TV shows spoken in English

  

9. I enjoy reading in [ethnic language]

  

10. I enjoy reading in English

  

11. I write in [ethnic language]

  

12. I write in English

  

13. I think in [ethnic language]

  

14. I think in English

  

15. My family cooks [ethnic name]** foods

  

Ethnic Interaction

16. My family cooks American foods

  

17. My family eats at [ethnic name] restaurants

  

18. My family eats at American restaurants

  

19. I visit [home country name]***

  

20. I talk on the telephone to friends or family in [home country]

  

21. My father identifies himself as [ethnic name]

  

Ethnic identification

22. My mother identifies herself as [ethnic name]

  

23. I like to identify myself as [ethnic name] American

  

24. I like to identify myself as [ethnic name]

  

25. I like to identify myself as American

  

Response options

Items 1–16

Item 17

Items 18–20

Items 20–25

Everyday/Extremely often

  

All the time

Every week/very often

2–3 times per year

Once a week

Very often

Once a month/sometimes

1 time a year

Once a month

Sometimes

Few times a year/not often

1 time every 5 years

Once a year

Not often

Never

1 time every 10 years

Once every 2 years

Never

Never been there

Not at all

  1. (Statements in italics are new or revised from original ARSMA II)
  2. * Ethnic language: Mien, Hmong, Spanish, Tongan, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Lao, Tagalog, Thai
  3. ** Ethnic name: Mien, Hmong, Mexican, Polynesian/Tongan, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Laotian, Filipino, Thai
  4. *** Home country: Laos, Thailand, Mexico, Tonga, Vietnam, Japan, China, Phillippines

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schaefer, S.E., Salazar, M., Bruhn, C. et al. Influence of Race, Acculturation, and Socioeconomic Status on Tendency Toward Overweight in Asian-American and Mexican-American Early Adolescent Females. J Immigrant Minority Health 11, 188–197 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9150-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9150-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation