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Physical Activity Among Asian American Adults in Houston, Texas: Data from the Health of Houston Survey 2010

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Abstract

This study used the 2010 Health of Houston Survey to examine the physical activity of Asian American adults living in Houston, Texas. Multivariate regression models were conducted to examine the number of moderate leisure physical activity days in the past week and likelihood of having sufficient levels of physical activity. The results showed that Asians were among the least physically active of the major racial/ethnic groups. Most notably, Asians were less likely than whites to have sufficient levels of physical activity and had similarly lower expected numbers of physical activity minutes and days. Within the Asian American population, Vietnamese adults had more physical activity minutes and days than their Chinese counterparts—after controlling for other sociodemographic and health factors. Age- and gender-adjusted rates suggested a significant gender disparity among the Vietnamese and South Asian adults (less so for the Chinese adults), but this varied across different age groups. Several factors emerged as significant predictors of physical activity for Asian Americans, including age, immigration status, speaking a non-English language at home, marital status, and neighborhood incivilities. Findings highlight the need for targeted, culturally appropriate interventions to promote physical activity in Asian American communities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Drs. Stephen H. Linder, Tom Reynolds, Dritana Marko, and Jessica M. Tullar at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health and its Institute for Health Policy for their support and assistance with the Health of Houston Survey data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, California State University Fullerton, 800 North State College Blvd. EC-207, Fullerton, CA, 92834-6868, USA

    Dennis Kao

  2. PEER Services, Evanston, IL, USA

    Amy Carvalho Gulati

  3. Arizona State University, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Rebecca E. Lee

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  1. Dennis Kao
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  2. Amy Carvalho Gulati
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  3. Rebecca E. Lee
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Correspondence to Dennis Kao.

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Kao, D., Carvalho Gulati, A. & Lee, R.E. Physical Activity Among Asian American Adults in Houston, Texas: Data from the Health of Houston Survey 2010. J Immigrant Minority Health 18, 1470–1481 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0274-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0274-1

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