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How do diabetes and obesity vary among Asian ethnic groups?
Allison Diamant, MD, MSHS,
Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Susan H. Babey, PhD,
Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Joelle Wolstein, MPP,
Center for Health Policy Research, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Background: The growing epidemics of diabetes and obesity threaten to dominate health care resources and worsen quality of life. Little is known about the prevalence of diabetes and obesity among Asian groups as researchers rarely disaggregate data on Asians. To inform the development of effective interventions we studied the variation in prevalence of diabetes and obesity among nine Asian ethnic groups. Methods: We used data from four waves of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a large population-based telephone survey with over-sampling of Asian households and interviews conducted in five Asian languages. Using combined samples from 2001/2003 and 2007/2009, we assessed the prevalence of diabetes and obesity by Asian groups and the impact of associated sociodemographic characteristics. Results: In 2001/2003 the prevalence of diabetes among Asians was 5.7%, but was most prevalent among Japanese (11.3%) and significantly less prevalent among South Asians (3.4%), Chinese (4.1%), Koreans (4.8%) and Vietnamese (5.4%). By 2007/2009 diabetes prevalence had increased to 7.1% overall, with significant increases among Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, and South Asians. Japanese (10%) continued to have a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes than Koreans (6.0%) and Vietnamese (4.8%). Findings for obesity were similar. In 2001/03 Japanese (8.4%) had the highest and Koreans (2.1%) had the lowest prevalence of obesity, while in 2007/09 Filipinos (12.2%) and Japanese (11.7%) had the highest rates, while Chinese (3.4%) had the lowest prevalence. Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes and obesity varies significantly by Asian ethnic group. The development and implementation of culturally appropriate interventions are needed to address these growing problems. Where possible, research on diabetes, obesity and other chronic conditions should examine variation by Asian ethnic groups and include sufficient sample sizes to enable such analyses, rather than relying on a summative measure of all Asians.
Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Learning Objectives:
Describe the variation of diabetes prevalence among Asians in the U.S.
Describe the variation in obesity prevalence among Asians in the U.S.
Discuss the growing epidemics of diabetes and obesity among Asians
Understand the importance of analyzing data among Asian ethnic groups
Keyword(s): Diabetes, Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Professor in General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Affiliate Faculty at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. I am the co-investigator for the research being presented and have overseen all aspects of the research and analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
