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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Obesity | Research article

Associations of socio-demographic factors with adiposity among immigrants in Norway: a secondary data analysis

Authors: Samera Azeem Qureshi, Melanie Straiton, Abdi A. Gele

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Obesity is becoming an important public health challenge, especially among immigrants coming from low and middle income to high-income countries. In this study we examined the relationship between overweight/obesity and various socio-demographic indicators among different immigrant groups in Norway.

Methods

We used data from the Living Conditions Survey among Immigrants 2016, conducted by Statistics Norway. Our study sample included 4194 immigrants from 12 different countries. Participants were asked about a number of topics including health, weight, height, demographic factors, length of residence and employment. We ran logistic regression analysis to determine the odds ratio (OR) of the associations between socio-demographic factors with adiposity among immigrants.

Results

Approximately 53% of the sample was overweight/obese. There was a significant difference in overweight/obesity by gender, age, country of origin and marital status. Overall immigrant men were almost 52% more likely to be overweight/obese than women. Women from Somalia had the highest odds (13.1; CI: 7.4–23.1) of being overweight/obese, followed by Iraq (8.6; CI: 4.9–14.9), Pakistan (7.5; CI: 4.2–13.4), Kosovo (7.0; CI: 4.1–12.1), and Turkey (6.8; CI: 4.0–11.6) as compared to the women from Vietnam (reference). Whereas men from Turkey had the highest odds (5.2; CI: (3.2–8.3)) of being overweight/obese, followed by Poland (4.2; CI: 2.7–6.1), Bosnia (4.1; CI: (2.6–6.5) and Kosovo (3.9; CI: 2.5–6.1). The odds for obesity increased with age and odds were highest in the eldest group 45–66 years (4.3; CI: 3.2–5.8) as compared to reference group16–24 years. The odds of being overweight/obese was higher among married (1.6; CI: 1.3–1.9) and divorced/separated/widowed (1.5; CI: 1.1–2.0) as compared to singles. Education, employment status, physical activity and length of residence were not associated with the odds of being overweight/obese.

Conclusion

The findings of this study call attention to the importance of a greater understanding of the processes leading to obesity among certain immigrant groups in Norway. Moreover, there is a need for culturally adapted prevention strategies targeting immigrant men and women with high rates of overweight/obesity.
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Metadata
Title
Associations of socio-demographic factors with adiposity among immigrants in Norway: a secondary data analysis
Authors
Samera Azeem Qureshi
Melanie Straiton
Abdi A. Gele
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08918-9

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