Preventing Chronic Disease | Association Between Asthma and Obesity Among Immigrant Asian Americans, California Health Interview Survey, 2001–2011 - CDC

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Preventing Chronic Disease | Association Between Asthma and Obesity Among Immigrant Asian Americans, California Health Interview Survey, 2001–2011 - CDC

Association Between Asthma and Obesity Among Immigrant Asian Americans, California Health Interview Survey, 2001–2011

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• Abstract
• Objective
• Methods
• Results
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
• References
• Tables

Benjamin J. Becerra, MS, MPH; Christy M. Scroggins, BA; Monideepa B. Becerra, DrPH, MPH

Suggested citation for this article: Becerra BJ, Scroggins CM, Becerra MB. Association Between Asthma and Obesity Among Immigrant Asian Americans, California Health Interview Survey, 2001–2011. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140333. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140333.

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Abstract

Our objective was to study the comorbidity of asthma and obesity among foreign-born Asian Americans, by subgroups. Public data from the California Health Interview Survey, 2001–2011, were analyzed by using independent logistic regressions, yielding the association between asthma and obesity (Asian and standard cutoffs for body mass index [BMIs]) of 19,841 Asian American immigrant respondents. Chinese, Filipino, South Asian, and Japanese immigrants had a positive association between lifetime asthma and obesity, whereas among Korean immigrants, a positive association was found between lifetime asthma and overweight status (standard BMI cutoffs). Routine screening for this comorbidity is warranted among immigrant Asian Americans.

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Objective

Studies have demonstrated the comorbidity of asthma and obesity (1); however, few studies focus specifically on Asian Americans by subgroup. Although the prevalence of asthma among Asian Americans (8%) is lower than among whites (9%), the prevalence level varies for each Asian ethnic group with the highest (11%) reported among Chinese (2). Similarly, rates of obesity among Asian subgroups are diverse, ranging from 14% (Filipinos) to 3% (Koreans) (3). Given the limited literature on Asian Americans, our objective was to evaluate the asthma–obesity nexus among immigrant Asian American subgroups. Immigrants face unique barriers to good health (4,5); thus, such an evaluation could facilitate targeted preventive measures.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Health Policy Research, for making the California Health Interview Survey publically available. The authors declare no sources of funding.

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Author Information

Corresponding Author: Monideepa B. Becerra, DrPH, MPH, Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, California State University, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407. Telephone: 951-525-9195. E-mail: mbecerra@csusb.edu.

Author Affiliations: Benjamin J. Becerra, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California; Christy M. Scroggins, California State University, San Bernardino, California.

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References

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