Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Research Laboratories, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2020 Feb 17;20(1):238. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8315-7.
Somali immigrants and refugees to the United States are at high risk for obesity and related cardiovascular risk. Social network factors influence health behaviors and are important contributors to the obesity epidemic. The objective of this study was to describe social networks and obesity-related characteristics among adult Somali immigrants in a Minnesota city in order to inform a community-based, participatory, research-derived, social network intervention to decrease obesity rates.
Survey data (demographics, general health measures, and sociobehavioral and network measures) and height and weight measures (for calculating body mass index) were collected from adult Somali immigrants by bilingual study team members at community locations. Descriptive statistics were used to report the survey and biometric data. Logistic regression models were used to describe the basic associations of participants and network factors. Network data were analyzed to identify nodes and ties, to visualize the network, and to identify potential interventionists for a future social network intervention.
Of the 646 participants, 50% were overweight or affected by obesity. The network had 1703 nodes with 3583 ties between nodes, and modularity was high (0.75). Compared with respondents of normal weight, participants who were overweight or affected by obesity had more network members who were also overweight or obese (odds ratio [OR], 2.90; 95% CI, 1.11-7.56; P = .03); this was most notable for men (OR, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.22-17.22; P = .02) and suggestive for those 50 years or older (OR, 24.23; 95% CI, 1.55-377.83; P = .03). Weight loss intention among participants who were overweight or affected by obesity was associated with number of family members and friends trying to lose weight, enabling functional network factors (social norms for weight loss, social support for healthy eating, and social cohesion), and less favorable obesogenic social norms.
In this community sample of Somali immigrants, distinct social networks are clustered by weight status, and social contacts and functional network characteristics are related to individuals' weight loss intentions. These factors should be considered in weight loss interventions and programs. A social network intervention targeting weight loss, within a community-based participatory research framework, is feasible in this vulnerable population.
移居到美国的索马里移民和难民肥胖及相关心血管疾病风险很高。社会网络因素影响健康行为，是肥胖流行的重要促成因素。本研究的目的是描述明尼苏达州一个城市中成年索马里移民的社会网络和肥胖相关特征，以便为基于社区的、参与性的、源自研究的、社会网络干预措施提供信息，以降低肥胖率。
双语研究团队成员在社区场所收集成年索马里移民的调查数据（人口统计学、一般健康指标以及社会行为和网络指标）和身高体重测量值（用于计算体重指数）。使用描述性统计方法报告调查和生物统计学数据。使用逻辑回归模型描述参与者和网络因素的基本关联。对网络数据进行分析以识别节点和联系，可视化网络，并确定未来社会网络干预的潜在干预者。
在 646 名参与者中，有 50%超重或肥胖。网络中有 1703 个节点，节点之间有 3583 个联系，模块性很高（0.75）。与体重正常的参与者相比，超重或肥胖的参与者的网络成员中也有更多超重或肥胖的人（比值比[OR]，2.90；95%置信区间[CI]，1.11-7.56；P=0.03）；这在男性中最为明显（OR，4.58；95%CI，1.22-17.22；P=0.02），在 50 岁及以上的人群中也有提示性（OR，24.23；95%CI，1.55-377.83；P=0.03）。超重或肥胖的参与者中减肥的意愿与试图减肥的家庭成员和朋友的数量、可行的网络因素（减肥的社会规范、健康饮食的社会支持和社会凝聚力）以及不太有利的肥胖社会规范有关。
在这个索马里移民的社区样本中，不同的社会网络按体重状况聚类，社会联系和功能网络特征与个体的减肥意愿有关。在减肥干预和计划中应考虑这些因素。在这个弱势群体中，以社区为基础的参与性研究框架为目标的减肥社会网络干预是可行的。
