Yeh Ming-Chin, Parikh Nina S, Megliola Alison E, Kelvin Elizabeth A
1 Nutrition Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
2 College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
Am J Health Promot. 2018 Mar;32(3):771-778. doi: 10.1177/0890117116677797. Epub 2016 Dec 1.
To investigate the relationship between immigration-related factors and body mass index (BMI) among immigrants.
Secondary analyses of cross-sectional survey data.
The New Immigrant Survey (NIS-2003) contains data from in-person or telephone interviews between May and November 2003, with a probability sample of immigrants granted legal permanent residency in the United States.
A total of 8573 US immigrants.
The NIS-2003 provided data on sociobehavioral domains, including migration history, education, employment, marital history, language, and health-related behaviors. The visa classifications are as follows: (1) family reunification, (2) employment, (3) diversity, (4) refugee, and (5) legalization.
Nested multivariable linear regression analysis was used to estimate the independent relationships between BMI and the variables of interest.
Overall, 32.6% of participants were overweight and 11.3% were obese (mean BMI = 25). Participants who were admitted to the United States with employment, refugee, or legalization visas compared with those who came with family reunion visas had a significantly higher BMI ( P < .001, P < .001, P < .01, respectively). Duration in the United States predicted BMI, with those immigrants in the United States longer having a higher BMI ( P < .001).
Our findings suggest that immigrants who obtain particular visa categorizations and immigration status might have a higher risk of being overweight or obese. Immigrants need to be targeted along with the rest of the US population for weight management interventions.
探讨移民中与移民相关因素和体重指数（BMI）之间的关系。
横断面调查数据的二次分析。
《新移民调查》（NIS - 2003）包含2003年5月至11月期间面对面或电话访谈的数据，样本为获得美国合法永久居留权的移民概率样本。
共8573名美国移民。
NIS - 2003提供了社会行为领域的数据，包括移民历史、教育、就业、婚姻历史、语言和健康相关行为。签证类别如下：（1）家庭团聚，（2）就业，（3）多元化，（4）难民，（5）合法化。
采用嵌套多变量线性回归分析来估计BMI与感兴趣变量之间的独立关系。
总体而言，32.6%的参与者超重，11.3%肥胖（平均BMI = 25）。与持家庭团聚签证进入美国的人相比，持就业、难民或合法化签证进入美国的参与者BMI显著更高（分别为P <.001、P <.001、P <.01）。在美国的停留时间可预测BMI，在美国停留时间更长的移民BMI更高（P <.001）。
我们的研究结果表明获得特定签证类别和移民身份的移民可能有更高的超重或肥胖风险。移民需要与美国其他人群一起成为体重管理干预的目标对象。
