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Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Amongst Recently Arrived Sudanese Refugees in Queensland, Australia

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Abstract

The study assessed the prevalence of obesity and related conditions among Sudanese adult migrants living in Brisbane, Australia. Data were obtained on 314 Sudanese immigrants aged 18–70 years. Measured body mass index (BMI) and self-reported diabetes and hypertension were obtained. More than half (51 %) of participants were overweight or obese, 6.4 % reported having type 2 diabetes while 12.4 % had hypertension. The full adjusted regression model explained 28.1 % of the variance in BMI. Odds of reporting type 2 diabetes increased with age, BMI and were greater among participants rating health as poor/fair than those rating as good/very good/excellent. Odds of high blood pressure increased with age, BMI, and were higher among participants rating health as poor/fair than those as good/very good/excellent. Health promotion programs to prevent weight gain in this subpopulation will significantly reduce inequalities related to type 2 diabetes and improve cardio-vascular outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Sudanese community in Brisbane for endorsing and participating in the study. The study was undertaken as part of Paul Bilal's thesis for the Master of Public Health degree at the University of Queensland. A/Prof Andre Renzaho is supported by an ARC Future Fellowship.

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None.

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Behavioural and Social Sciences Ethical Review Committee, the University of Queensland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Migration, Social Disadvantage, and Health Programs, International Public Health Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 3, Burnet Building, 89 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    A. M. N. Renzaho

  2. Centre for Internal Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    A. M. N. Renzaho

  3. School of Allied and Public Health Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia

    P. Bilal

  4. School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia

    G. C. Marks

Authors
  1. A. M. N. Renzaho
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  2. P. Bilal
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  3. G. C. Marks
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Correspondence to A. M. N. Renzaho.

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Renzaho, A.M.N., Bilal, P. & Marks, G.C. Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Amongst Recently Arrived Sudanese Refugees in Queensland, Australia. J Immigrant Minority Health 16, 86–94 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9791-y

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