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. 2011 Feb;13(1):169-80.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-010-9332-x.

Factors associated with overweight and obesity among children of Mexican descent: results of a binational study

Lisa G Rosas  1 , Sylvia Guendelman, Kim Harley, Lia C H Fernald, Lynnette Neufeld, Fabiola Mejia, Brenda Eskenazi
Affiliations

Factors associated with overweight and obesity among children of Mexican descent: results of a binational study

Lisa G Rosas et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

The prevalence of childhood obesity is high among young children of Mexican origin in the United States, however, the determinants are poorly understood. We conducted a binational study with a sample from California (CA) and Mexico (MX), to identify and compare the most important factors associated with overweight and obesity among children of Mexican descent. Significantly more children were classified as overweight or obese in CA compared to MX (53.3 vs. 14.9%, P < 0.01). In CA and MX, having an obese mother was significantly associated with being overweight or obese. In MX, male gender, high socioeconomic status and very low food insecurity were associated with being overweight or obese. These data offer hypotheses for how migration may influence the high prevalence of overweight among the Mexican children in California.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Children’s weight status in Mexico, California, and California by mother’s years in US
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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