Obesity Disparities Among Adult Single-Race and Multiracial Asian and Pacific Islander Populations
Authors' conclusion
In this study, multiracial Asian and Pacific Islander individuals had an increased prevalence of obesity compared with many of their single-race counterparts. As the number of multiracial individuals increases, it will be important for clinical and public health systems to track disparities in these populations.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥18 years) of 2 large health care systems in California and Hawai'i with ≥1 ambulatory primary care visit, 2006–2018; 58.4% male, mean age 70.73 years
- Participants
- 5,229 adults
- Exposure
- Single-race and multiracial Asian and Pacific Islander groups vs White
- Asian Indiann = 444
- Chinesen = 1,091
- Filipinon = 483
- Japanesen = 666
- Native Hawaiiann = 91
- Other Pacific Islandern = 95
- Whiten = 888reference
- Asian and Pacific Islandern = 417
- Asian, Pacific Islander, and Whiten = 392
- Asian and Whiten = 248
- Pacific Islander and Whiten = 414
- Outcome
- Obesity (BMI ≥30.0), based on last measured height and weight from the EHR
Methodological detailsElectronic health record (EHR) data linked to social determinants of health and health behavior data, 2 large health care systems, Data analyzed from October 31, 2022, to July 31, 2023
- EHR data linked to social determinants of health and health behavior data
- 2 large health care systems
- Data analyzed from October 31, 2022, to July 31, 2023
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obesity (BMI ≥30.0)
Each group vs whiteOdds ratio (95% CI)
Asian, Pacific Islander, and Whiteadjusted for demographic, socioeconomic and health behavior factors
1.80(1.37–2.38)
Pacific Islander and Whiteadjusted
1.55(1.18–2.04)
Asian Indianadjusted
0.29(0.20–0.40)
Chineseadjusted
0.22(0.17–0.29)
Filipinoadjusted
0.46(0.35–0.62)
Japaneseadjusted
0.38(0.29–0.50)
- Obesity overall
- 1333 (25.5%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Obesity Disparities Among Adult Single-Race and Multiracial Asian and Pacific Islander Populations. JAMA Netw Open. Published 4 March 2024. doi:10.
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