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Mitchell Rubin, MD, Department of Pediatrics and Director of Community Medicine, New York Medical College, 413 East 120th Street, New York, NY 10035, 212-410-7940, rubinm@nychhc.org and Tod Mijanovich, MPA, Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, Center for Health and Public Service Research, 726 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003.
Although the prevalence of overweight and obesity among selected racial and ethnic groups living in the United States is modestly well documented, there is almost no research on obesity prevalence among major U.S. ethnic subgroups. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reports on obesity for a limited number of major ethnic groups (viz., Mexicans and non-Hispanic Blacks), but except for the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Survey (HHANES) of 1984, there is little research documenting obesity prevalence or disparities among other ethnic subgroups, and no published work to our knowledge that documents obesity rates among major Hispanic subgroups residing in the United States, such as Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and South Americans. This is especially surprising given the growing clinical concern regarding near epidemic overall rates of obesity, and ethnic health disparities.
We report on an ongoing obesity surveillance effort undertaken at La Clinica del Barrio, a family health center serving mostly Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Mexicans living in East Harlem, a predominantly poor Hispanic neighborhood with the highest rates of obesity in New York City. Data on height, weight, age, and clinical findings were collected from a random sample of clinic records, and body mass indices were calculated. Despite the fact that our sample is not population-based, we find rates of obesity among Mexican adults that are very similar to recent NHANES estimates. Most importantly, however, we find significant differences in obesity rates among our major ethnic subgroups, even when controlling for age and gender, with Puerto Ricans being significantly more overweight and obese than Mexicans, Dominicans, or South Americans. This is in distinct contrast to the 20-year-old findings of HHANES, which reported very similar obesity rates for Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and other Hispanic groups. This finding is relevant to both policymakers and researchers, who are currently attempting to understand the distinctive cultural determinants of obesity, and the extent to which approaches to the problem need to be culturally framed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will
Keywords: Obesity, Ethnic Minorities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.