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An Examination of Nutritional Status and Acculturation among Chinese Senior Immigrants Living in Northern Virginia
Author(s) -
Dong Mengyi,
Sun Yingxin,
Pawloski Lisa
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.589.8
Subject(s) - underweight , acculturation , medicine , overweight , demography , waist , body mass index , anthropometry , gerontology , obesity , immigration , geography , archaeology , sociology
Objective To investigate the relationship between nutrition status and acculturation among first generation Chinese senior immigrants. Methods: This descriptive study used a convenience sample from 43 Chinese senior immigrants (ages 66 to 100 years) living in Northern Virginia for 6 to 42 years. Data included: anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and acculturation indicators. T‐tests determined relationships between length of time in the US and nutrition. Results: 83.8% of participants completed some higher education. 28.6% were overweight and 4.8% were underweight. Those who have higher education, and have been in the US for more than 30 years have significantly higher body mass index (BMI, p=0.026), waist circumference (p=0.016) and waist‐hip‐ratio (p=0.016) than those who have been in the US for less than 30 years. Mean BMI was 26.1 (>= 30 years in the US) and 22.6 (< 30 years in the US) respectively. 43.9% of all participants had systolic pressure over 140 mmHg. Conclusions There is little evidence of obesity in this population. As with other immigrant groups in the U.S., the greater the length of time living in the US, the greater risk of obesity. This study presents one of first to examine nutritional status among Chinese senior immigrants.