Association between Acculturation and Obesity among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates: A Population-Based Study

Syed M. Shah; Marília Silva Paulo; Tom Loney; Javaid Nauman; Romona D. Govender

doi:10.1055/s-0043-1761961

Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 2023; 15(02): 079-087
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1761961

Original Article

Association between Acculturation and Obesity among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates: A Population-Based Study

Authors

Syed M. Shah

¹Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

²Department of Family Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Marília Silva Paulo

¹Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tom Loney

³Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Javaid Nauman

¹Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

⁴Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Romona D. Govender

⁵Family Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Introduction Emerging evidence suggests that the “healthy migrant effect” may diminish over time with increasing years of residency in the host country. However, few studies have documented the duration of residence associated with the prevalence of obesity among female migrants. This study examined the hypothesis that acculturation is associated with an increased prevalence of obesity among female migrants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Results The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the age of participants was 34.0 ± 9.9 years. The overall prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central adiposity was 30.0, 16.8, and 43.2%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central adiposity varied across nationalities, with 28.6, 6.9, and 30.3% among Filipinos; 30.1, 37.5, and 66.9% among Arabs; and 33.1, 17.3, and 72.4% among South Asians, respectively. After controlling for age, female migrants with ≥5 years of residence in the UAE were twice as likely to be overweight or obese (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.12 [95%confidence interval (CI): 1.05–4.27]) and having a central adiposity (aOR: 2.05 [95%CI: 1.09–3.84]) as compared with those with fewer years of residence. Female migrants who reported walking for ≤30 min/d were less likely to be overweight or obese (aOR: 0.41 [95%CI: 0.17–0.97]) or exhibit central adiposity (aOR: 0.21 [95%CI: 0.08, 0.59]).

Conclusion The findings of the study suggest that duration of residence among female migrants in the UAE is an indicator of acculturation and is associated with unfavorable changes in body composition. Public health programs should focus on promoting healthy lifestyle choices and physical activity among females in the UAE.

Keywords

acculturation - obesity - prevalence - migrants - Filipino - South Asians - Arabs

Full Text

References

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