Risk Factors Associated with General and Abdominal Obesity among South Asian Minorities in Hong Kong
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| Title: | Risk Factors Associated with General and Abdominal Obesity among South Asian Minorities in Hong Kong |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Gary Ka-Ki Chung (ORCID |
| Source: | Health Education & Behavior. 2025 52(1):61-72. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Asians, Minority Groups, Ethnic Groups, Obesity, Incidence, Risk, Adults, Body Composition, Gender Differences, Ethnicity, Age Differences, Family Size, Marital Status, Eating Habits, Physical Activity Level, Individual Characteristics |
| Geographic Terms: | Hong Kong, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10901981241267992 |
| ISSN: | 1090-1981 1552-6127 |
| Abstract: | South Asians have become a sizable ethnic minority in Hong Kong with unique health and social needs often being overlooked. Elevated obesity risk among South Asians has been highlighted in high-income Western settings; however, relevant local evidence is scarce. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the obesity prevalence and related risk factors among South Asians in Hong Kong. Between June 2022 and February 2023, 535 South Asian adults were recruited via territory-wide health outreach services, and completed a survey and anthropometric measurements on height, weight, and waist circumference. In our female-dominated sample (84.1% female; mean age = 41.0 ± 12.3 years), the observed prevalence of general obesity (body mass index [BMI] [greater than or equal to] 27.5 kg/m[superscript 2] for South Asians) and abdominal obesity (waist-to-height ratio [WHtR] > 50%) were 60.2% and 89.4%, respectively. Results from multivariable linear regressions showed that mean BMI and WHtR were significantly higher among women and Pakistani individuals (and Nepalese individuals for BMI only) but lower among better educated and employed respondents. Apart from age, household size, and marital status as common risk factors, having a healthier diet and higher physical activity level were also associated with lower WHtR. Notably, the associations of female gender and Pakistani ethnicity were attenuated after adjustments for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of obesity in South Asian participants in this study. The identified risk and protective factors could inform targeted services and community-based weight management programs to mitigate obesity and its associated cardiometabolic risks in this fast-growing but vulnerable community. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1467182 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | South Asians have become a sizable ethnic minority in Hong Kong with unique health and social needs often being overlooked. Elevated obesity risk among South Asians has been highlighted in high-income Western settings; however, relevant local evidence is scarce. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the obesity prevalence and related risk factors among South Asians in Hong Kong. Between June 2022 and February 2023, 535 South Asian adults were recruited via territory-wide health outreach services, and completed a survey and anthropometric measurements on height, weight, and waist circumference. In our female-dominated sample (84.1% female; mean age = 41.0 ± 12.3 years), the observed prevalence of general obesity (body mass index [BMI] [greater than or equal to] 27.5 kg/m[superscript 2] for South Asians) and abdominal obesity (waist-to-height ratio [WHtR] > 50%) were 60.2% and 89.4%, respectively. Results from multivariable linear regressions showed that mean BMI and WHtR were significantly higher among women and Pakistani individuals (and Nepalese individuals for BMI only) but lower among better educated and employed respondents. Apart from age, household size, and marital status as common risk factors, having a healthier diet and higher physical activity level were also associated with lower WHtR. Notably, the associations of female gender and Pakistani ethnicity were attenuated after adjustments for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of obesity in South Asian participants in this study. The identified risk and protective factors could inform targeted services and community-based weight management programs to mitigate obesity and its associated cardiometabolic risks in this fast-growing but vulnerable community. |
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| ISSN: | 1090-1981 1552-6127 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10901981241267992 |
