Impact of Nativity Status on Dietary Behavior and Obesity Among US Adults

Background/Objectives Non-communicable diseases and chronic conditions such as obesity continue to emerge as public health crises in the United States (US) and globally. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate how U.S. immigrants compare to native-born adults regarding obesity-related behavior such as dietary intake. Subjects/Methods The Health Information National Trends Survey was analyzed for this study. The survey was conducted between September and December 2013. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were utilized for covariates of interest. Results 3131 respondents were included in the analysis. Mean age was 54.68 years (SD +/- 16.5) with a female preponderance (61%). Majority were native-born (83%). About 25% of the immigrants were obese, compared to 34% of non-immigrants. After adjusting for gender, age group, race/ethnicity, level of education, marital status and income category, immigrants were more likely to take some quantity of fruit daily (aOR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.07 - 3.32; p = 0.0290); and less likely to consume soda every week (adjusted OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55 - 0.98; p = 0.0383). Compared to Caucasians, Hispanics (aOR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.50 - 2.65; p <.0001) and Blacks (aOR = 2.76; 95% CI: 2.08 - 3.64; p <.0001) were more likely to consume soda on a weekly basis. Conclusion U.S. immigrants are less likely to be obese, and they have healthier dietary behavior compared to non-immigrants. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of various socio-economic, demographic and cultural factors that impact determinants of obesity.