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Longitudinal Changes and High-Risk Subgroups for Obesity and Overweight/Obesity Among Refugees in Buffalo, NY, 2004–2014

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Abstract

Introduction

Very few studies have been conducted on non-communicable diseases among resettled refugees. The purpose of the study was to examine longitudinal changes in obesity and overweight/obesity rates among resettled refugees and identify high-risk subgroups.

Methods

Longitudinal health assessment data of 818 children (2–18 years) and 1055 adults (≥19 years) were used from a refugee clinic in Buffalo, NY, during 2004–2014. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. Risk factors of obesity and overweight/obesity were assessed using multivariate regression models.

Results

Obesity (8.7 to 12.7%) and overweight/obesity (16.9 to 26.7%) rates increased among children over 4.5 years (p < 0.01). Over 3.9 years, overweight/obesity rates increased in men (39.6 to 58.6%, p < 0.01) and women (55.1 to 73.5%, p < 0.01), exceeding the prevalence of overweight/obesity of 65.8% in US-born women. Interestingly, longitudinal overweight/obesity rates decreased among Middle Eastern (81.4 vs 78.0%, p < 0.01) and East European (75.0 vs 70.8%, p < 0.01) women. African children had 2.31-folds (odds ratio [OR] = 2.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.46–3.67) greater overweight/obesity risk than Asians. African girls who were not overweight or obese at baseline had the highest risk of becoming obese at follow-up visits (OR = 0.21; 95%CI = 0.09–0.52). For each additional year refugees lived in the USA, overweight/obesity risk among men (OR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.09–1.39) and women (OR = 1.18; 95%CI = 1.04–1.35) increased.

Conclusion

Obesity and overweight/obesity rates increased among refugees, but significant variations existed. Overweight/obesity rate among refugee women surpassed the US average. African origin, baseline weight, and longer duration of stay in the USA were risk factors. Culturally tailored programs are needed to prevent obesity and reduce health disparities among refugees.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mrs. Jessie Mossop, Information Services and Reporting Manager at Jericho Road Community Health Center, for her assistance in data retrieval. The content of the paper is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funders. This study was partly supported by research grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH, U54 HD070725, 1R01HD064685-01A1). The U54 project (U54 HD070725) is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (OD). Dr. Youfa Wang is the principal investigator of the grants.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Wudeneh Mulugeta

    Present address: Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, 454 Broadway, Revere, MA, 02151, USA

  2. Youfa Wang

    Present address: Systems-Oriented Global Childhood Obesity Intervention Program, College of Health, Ball State University, HP 302, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

    Wudeneh Mulugeta, Jungwon Min, Hong Xue, Michael F. Noe & Youfa Wang

  2. Jericho Road Community Health Center, Buffalo, NY, 14213, USA

    Myron Glick

  3. Systems-oriented Global Childhood Obesity Intervention Program, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

    Youfa Wang

Authors
  1. Wudeneh Mulugeta
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Correspondence to Wudeneh Mulugeta.

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Funding

This study was partly supported by research grants to Dr. Youfa Wang from the National Institute of Health (NIH, U54 HD070725, 1R01HD064685-01A1). The U54 project (U54 HD070725) is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (OD).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

Institutional review board (IRB) approval was received from the State University of New York at Buffalo for the study. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

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Mulugeta, W., Glick, M., Min, J. et al. Longitudinal Changes and High-Risk Subgroups for Obesity and Overweight/Obesity Among Refugees in Buffalo, NY, 2004–2014. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 5, 187–194 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-017-0356-y

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