Immigrants' acculturation and changes in Body Mass Index

Tor Iversen; Ching-to Albert Ma; Haakon E Meyer

doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2012.02.003

Immigrants' acculturation and changes in Body Mass Index

Econ Hum Biol. 2013 Jan;11(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ehb.2012.02.003. Epub 2012 Feb 25.

Authors

Tor Iversen¹, Ching-to Albert Ma, Haakon E Meyer

Affiliation

¹ Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089 Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway. tor.iversen@medisin.uio.no

PMID: 22425439
DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2012.02.003

Abstract

We study Body Mass Index (BMI) changes among immigrants from Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Vietnam relative to native Norwegians in Oslo. We assess the effect of acculturation on BMI changes. We hypothesize that acculturation reduces the gap of BMIs between natives and immigrants. Acculturation is measured by immigrants' language skills. Our data come from two surveys in Oslo 2000-2002. Weights and heights were measured at the surveys; participants were asked to recall weights when they were 25 years old. Norwegian language skills and socio-economic data were collected. Our findings support our hypothesis. Acculturation, as measured by proficiency in the Norwegian language, has the predicted effects on BMI changes. We do not find any effect of immigrants' time of residency on BMI changes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acculturation*
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Asia / ethnology
Asian People
Body Mass Index*
Body Weights and Measures
Cohort Studies
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Emigrants and Immigrants / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Humans
Language
Male
Middle Aged
Norway / epidemiology
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
White People