Abstract
Background/Aims: The Work, Weight and Wellness (3W) program is a randomized trial funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The program aims to decrease obesity among hotel workers in Hawaii. In this study we examined patterns of obesity in relation to migration status and ethnicity at baseline.
Methods: Four thousand five hundred thirty hotel workers in 31 hotels were measured for weight, height and waist circumference at baseline, prior to intervention. Ethnicity and place of birth were self-reported. Data analysis was done using SAS.
Results: Forty-five percent of hotel workers were born outside of the U.S. Of hotel workers born in the U.S., 35% were born in Hawaii, while 9% were born on the U.S. mainland. Among hotel workers born outside of the U.S., 38% were born in the Philippines, 3% in Japan, 3% in Southeast Asia, 1% in other Pacific islands, and 12% in other locations. Self-reported ethnicity was 44% Filipino, 32% other Asian, 13% Pacific Islander, 9% White and 3% other ethnicity. The body mass index (BMI) of immigrants was 2.2 kg/m2 higher than that of non-immigrants, on average, and waist circumference was 5.1 cm higher, on average. The BMI of males was greater than that of females and the interaction of sex and immigration on BMI was significant. The BMI of Pacific Islanders and Filipinos was greater than that of Whites, while BMI of Asians was lower than that of Whites; however, Filipino BMI was no longer greater than White BMI after adjusting for migration status and sex. Being immigrant, male and Pacific Islander was associated with greater BMI, while being Asian was associated with lower BMI.
Conclusions: Birth outside of the U.S., male sex, Pacific Islander ethnicity and Filipino ethnicity were associated with obesity. Future study will examine the differential effects of the 3W intervention program on obesity, and if this was modified by migration status, sex and ethnicity.
- Received September 11, 2008.
