View in EDS HTML Full Text

Age, Gender and Ethnic Differences in Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Asian American College Students and Their Parents Using Different BMI Cutoffs

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Age, Gender and Ethnic Differences in Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Asian American College Students and Their Parents Using Different BMI Cutoffs
Language: English
Authors: Wang, Li Hui, Chen, Ying Chang, Ka Chung, Angela, Poon, George, Lew, Polong, Tam, Chick F.
Source: College Student Journal. Sep 2007 41(3):583-600.
Availability: Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/csj.html
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2007
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Descriptors: College Students, Obesity, Incidence, Public Health, Asian Americans, Age Differences, Gender Differences, Body Weight, Ethnicity, Parents, Evaluation Criteria
Geographic Terms: California
ISSN: 0146-3934
Abstract: The objective was to determine if the WHO global BMI (kg/m[squared]) cutoffs for determining overweight and obesity in the general populations are appropriate for Asian populations and to consider whether population-specific cutoffs would be warranted. A nonrandomized biased sampling of 227 Asian Americans were composed of 149 college students, including 104 Chinese, 30 Vietnamese and 15 Japanese, enrolled in California State University at Los Angeles and 78 of their parents to examine the differences of prevalence of overweight and obesity based on two BMI cutoffs: (I) WHO global cutoffs, overweight BMI greater than or equal to 25, obesity: BMI greater than or equal to 30, and (II) WHO recommended cutoffs for Asians, overweight: BMI greater than or equal to 23, obesity: BMI greater than or equal to 27.5. The prevalence of overweight/obesity based on (II) were 2 times higher than those based on (I) in total young Asians, total Chinese, and in young, old, male Chinese. It was 4 times higher in young Vietnamese and 3 times higher in female Japanese. The prevalence of obesity was also fairly different using these two criteria. This study identified potential BMI cutoffs to consider for these Asians and established that the WHO cutoffs for Asians should be taken into consideration when making public health policy for these populations. (Contains 3 tables and 8 figures.)
Abstractor: Author
Number of References: 44
Entry Date: 2007
Access URL: https://www.projectinnovation.biz/csj.html
Accession Number: EJ777965
Database: ERIC
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Description
Abstract:The objective was to determine if the WHO global BMI (kg/m[squared]) cutoffs for determining overweight and obesity in the general populations are appropriate for Asian populations and to consider whether population-specific cutoffs would be warranted. A nonrandomized biased sampling of 227 Asian Americans were composed of 149 college students, including 104 Chinese, 30 Vietnamese and 15 Japanese, enrolled in California State University at Los Angeles and 78 of their parents to examine the differences of prevalence of overweight and obesity based on two BMI cutoffs: (I) WHO global cutoffs, overweight BMI greater than or equal to 25, obesity: BMI greater than or equal to 30, and (II) WHO recommended cutoffs for Asians, overweight: BMI greater than or equal to 23, obesity: BMI greater than or equal to 27.5. The prevalence of overweight/obesity based on (II) were 2 times higher than those based on (I) in total young Asians, total Chinese, and in young, old, male Chinese. It was 4 times higher in young Vietnamese and 3 times higher in female Japanese. The prevalence of obesity was also fairly different using these two criteria. This study identified potential BMI cutoffs to consider for these Asians and established that the WHO cutoffs for Asians should be taken into consideration when making public health policy for these populations. (Contains 3 tables and 8 figures.)
ISSN:0146-3934