Yi Stella S, Kwon Simona C, Wyatt Laura, Islam Nadia, Trinh-Shevrin Chau
New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Ave., VZN 8th Floor, #844, New York, NY 10016, United States.
New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Ave., VZN 8th Floor, #844, New York, NY 10016, United States.
Prev Med. 2015 Apr;73:6-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.01.007. Epub 2015 Jan 17.
According to national estimates, obesity prevalence is lower in Asian Americans compared to other racial/ethnic groups, but this low prevalence may be misleading for three reasons. First, a lower body mass index (BMI) cutoff as proposed by the World Health Organization may be more appropriate to use in Asian populations. However, evidence is limited to substantiate the potential costs and burden of adopting these cutoffs. Increasing BMI in Asians (as in other racial/ethnic groups) should be considered across the spectrum of BMI, with a minimum awareness of these lower cutoffs among healthcare researchers. Second, the need for disaggregated data across Asian American subgroups is illustrated by the higher obesity (and diabetes) prevalence estimates observed in South Asian Americans. Third, prevalence of obesity should be placed in the larger context of immigration and globalization through cross-national comparisons and examination of acculturation-related factors. However these types of studies and collection of salient variables are not routinely performed. Data from a metropolitan area where many Asian Americans settle is presented as a case study to illustrate these points. Clear evidence that incorporates these three considerations is necessary for program planning and resource allocation for obesity-related disparities in this rapidly growing and diverse population.
根据全国估计数据，与其他种族/族裔群体相比，亚裔美国人的肥胖患病率较低，但这种低患病率可能会产生误导，原因有三。首先，世界卫生组织提议的较低体重指数（BMI）临界值可能更适合用于亚洲人群。然而，支持采用这些临界值的潜在成本和负担的证据有限。在亚洲人群中（与其他种族/族裔群体一样），应在整个BMI范围内考虑BMI的增加，医疗保健研究人员至少应了解这些较低的临界值。其次，南亚裔美国人中较高的肥胖（和糖尿病）患病率估计值表明，需要亚裔美国人亚群体的分类数据。第三，应通过跨国比较和对与文化适应相关因素的研究，将肥胖患病率置于移民和全球化的大背景下。然而，这类研究和重要变量的收集并非常规进行。作为一个案例研究，本文展示了来自许多亚裔美国人定居的大都市地区的数据，以说明这些问题。对于这个快速增长且多样化的人群中与肥胖相关的差异进行项目规划和资源分配而言，纳入这三个考虑因素的明确证据是必要的。
