Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016;2(3):100115.
Epub 2016 Nov 10.

Weight Trajectory in Refugee Children after Resettling in the United States: A Pilot Study

Akhila Shapiro  1 , George A Datto  2 , Jobayer Hossain  3 , Sandra G Hassink  2 , Christopher Raab  2 , Thao-Ly T Phan  2
Affiliations

Weight Trajectory in Refugee Children after Resettling in the United States: A Pilot Study

Akhila Shapiro et al. J Pediatr Child Nutr. 2016.

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study is to describe the weight trajectory of refugee children after resettlement in the US.

Methods: A pilot study was conducted, utilizing longitudinal data obtained from the electronic health record of 129 children between 2 and 18 years of age (54% female, mean age 10 years) from the 3 primary countries of origin presenting to a refugee clinic (Bhutan, N = 71; Burma, N = 36, and Iraq, N = 22).. Mixed effects model analyses were utilized to characterize weight trajectory with calculation of a per year change in BMI-z score, adjusting for baseline BMI-z score, age, and time.

Results: There was a significant increase in BMI-z (mean 0.15 units/year, p=0.04) among refugee children during their initial period after resettlement. Female children from Bhutan demonstrated the most rapid increase in weight, with a mean BMI-z gain of 1.00 units/year.

Conclusion: Female children from Bhutan demonstrated rapid weight gain after resettlement in the US. Further studies are needed to describe weight trajectory trends and evaluate possible reasons for rapid weight gain in this population.

Keywords: Nutrition; Obesity; Refugee; Resettlement.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. World disasters report 2011: Focus on hunger and malnutrition. 2011.
    1. Caballero B. The global epidemic of obesity: an overview. Epidemiol Rev. 2007;29:1–5. - PubMed
    1. Gardner G, Halwell B. Overfed and Underfed: The global epidemic of malnutrition. 2000.
    1. Dookeran NM, Battaglia T, Cochran J, Geltman PL. Chronic disease and its risk factors among refugees and asylees in Massachusetts, 2001–2005. Prev Chronic Dis. 2010;7:A51. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bhatta MP, Shakya S, Assad L, Zullo MD. Chronic disease burden among Bhutanese refugee women 18–65 years resettled in Northeast Ohio, United States, 2008–2011. J Immigr Minor Health. 2015;17:1169–1176. - PubMed