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Long-term neighborhood ethnic composition and weight-related outcomes among immigrants: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Long-term neighborhood ethnic composition and weight-related outcomes among immigrants: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Félice Lê-Scherban, Sandra S. Albrecht, Theresa L. Osypuk, Brisa N. Sánchez and Ana V. Diez Roux
Health & place, v 58, 102147
Jul 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102147
PMID: 31234123
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc6708458View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified),  Open

Abstract

Diet Immigrants Neighborhoods Physical activity Waist circumference
Weight among immigrants in the United States (US) is lower than among the US-born on average, but higher among long-term immigrants than the newly arrived. Neighborhood coethnic concentration—the proportion of neighborhood residents of the same ethnic background—may influence weight among immigrants via behavioral norms and market-driven community resources. However, the relevant exposure timeframe may be far longer than is captured by existing cross-sectional and short-term studies. Using detailed historical residential address information on 1449 older Latino and Chinese long-term immigrants, we investigated associations of 10–20-year neighborhood coethnic concentration trajectories with current waist circumference and weight-related behaviors (diet, physical activity, and sedentary time). Among Chinese participants, compared to persistent low coethnic concentration, increasing coethnic concentration was associated with higher waist circumference (difference = 1.45 cm [0.51, 2.39]). In contrast, both increasing coethnic concentration and persistent high coethnic concentration were associated with a healthier diet. Among Latino participants, trajectories characterized by higher coethnic concentration were associated with higher waist circumference (e.g., difference = 2.11 cm [0.31, 3.91] for persistent high vs. persistent low) and low physical activity. Long-term patterns of neighborhood coethnic concentration may affect weight-related outcomes among immigrants in complex ways that differ by ethnicity and outcome. •Long-term neighborhood ethnic composition was related to immigrants' weight outcomes.•Chinese and Latino immigrants in high-coethnic neighborhoods had higher waist circumference.•Latino immigrants in high-Latino neighborhoods reported less physical activity.•Chinese immigrants in increasing or high coethnic neighborhoods had healthier diets.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#10 Reduced Inequalities

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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