Abstract
The effects of acculturation, body perception, and health behaviors on weight status among Vietnamese American students in
Houston, Texas were examined for our research. A survey was mailed to 600 randomly selected Vietnamese American students at
one university, and 261 complete surveys (response rate, 43.5%) were used for final analyses. Respondents were classified
as overweight or normal weight based on the World Health Organization recommended overweight cutoff for Asians (BMI of 23 kg/m2). About 32% of respondents were overweight. Men, undergraduate students, and those with an acceptable body perception were
more likely to be overweight. Nativity and its interaction with length of US residence were significant predictors of weight
status after controlling for other variables. Foreign-born respondents were less likely to be overweight than US-born respondents,
but the risk of being overweight with increasing years of US residence was much greater for the foreign-born than for the
US-born. The results suggest the need for culturally tailored overweight and obesity prevention programs for Vietnamese Americans.
Houston, Texas were examined for our research. A survey was mailed to 600 randomly selected Vietnamese American students at
one university, and 261 complete surveys (response rate, 43.5%) were used for final analyses. Respondents were classified
as overweight or normal weight based on the World Health Organization recommended overweight cutoff for Asians (BMI of 23 kg/m2). About 32% of respondents were overweight. Men, undergraduate students, and those with an acceptable body perception were
more likely to be overweight. Nativity and its interaction with length of US residence were significant predictors of weight
status after controlling for other variables. Foreign-born respondents were less likely to be overweight than US-born respondents,
but the risk of being overweight with increasing years of US residence was much greater for the foreign-born than for the
US-born. The results suggest the need for culturally tailored overweight and obesity prevention programs for Vietnamese Americans.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9468-3
- Authors
- Jin Young Choi, Department of Sociology, Sam Houston State University, Box 2446, Huntsville, TX 77341-2446, USA
- Jessica Hwang, Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Jenny Yi, Health Program, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912