Asian-Americans: Diabetes prevalence across U.S. and WHO weight classifications
- Reena Oza-Frank, MS-, MPH, RD (roza{at}emory.edu)1,
- Mohammed K. Ali, MBChB, MSc2,
- Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD1,3 and
- K.M. Venkatnarayan, MD1,2,3
- 1Emory University, Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Graduate Division of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA
- 2Emory University, Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
- 3Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Abstract
Objective: To compare diabetes prevalence by WHO and U.S. BMI classifications among Asian Americans.
Research Design and Methods: Data on Asian American adults (n=7,414) from NHIS 1997–2005 were analyzed. Diabetes prevalence was estimated across weight and ethnic group strata.
Results: Regardless of BMI classification, Asian Indians and Filipinos had the highest overweight prevalence (34–47%, 35–47%, respectively, compared to 20–38% in Chinese; P<0.05). Asian Indians also had the highest ethnic-specific diabetes prevalence (ranging from 6–7% among normal weight to 19–33% among obese; compared to non-Hispanic whites, odds ratios (95% CI) for Asian Indians were 2.0 (1.5–2.6, adjusted for age and sex), and 3.1 (2.4–4.0) with additional adjustment for BMI.
Conclusions: Asian Indian ethnicity on its own, but not other Asian ethnicities, was strongly associated with diabetes. Weight classification as a marker of diabetes risk may need to accommodate differences across Asian subgroups.
Footnotes
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- Received March 25, 2009.
- Accepted May 22, 2009.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
