Neighborhood and Behavioral Effects on Weight Change Across Immigrant Generations: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health)
Background Childhood obesity is a global problem that disproportionately affects minority populations in the USA. Relative to all US-born individuals, some foreign-born populations also experience higher obesity risk. Prior research focuses on the role of healthy behaviors in increasing obesity risk...
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| Published in: | International journal of behavioral medicine Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 731 - 742 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New York
Springer US
01-10-2023
Springer Nature B.V |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Background
Childhood obesity is a global problem that disproportionately affects minority populations in the USA. Relative to all US-born individuals, some foreign-born populations also experience higher obesity risk. Prior research focuses on the role of healthy behaviors in increasing obesity risk, but the neighborhoods in which individuals reside shape those behaviors. The aim of this study is to examine how changes in health behaviors and neighborhood characteristics affect weight change across immigrant generational groups.
Methods
The study uses a prospective longitudinal cohort of 3,506 adolescents first interviewed in 1994 (The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health). To examine the relationship between immigrant generational status and weight change over time while considering healthy behaviors and the neighborhood environment, this research relies on linear multilevel methods.
Results
Neighborhood disadvantage, not health behaviors, has a significant effect on weight change — for both first-generation Asians (
β
= 1.52;
p
< 0.001) and Latinxs across all immigrant generations. In neighborhoods where residents do not engage in much exercise, the role that one’s level of physical activity plays in weight change is lower than in places where residents engage in much exercise, irrespective of immigrant generation.
Conclusion
These findings provide some evidence that neighborhood features and physical activity in the neighborhood may curb obesity risk among adolescents and young adults. The results can inform urban planning efforts and community-based interventions to increase physical activity across ethnic minority populations. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1070-5503 1532-7558 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s12529-023-10161-6 |