Overweight and Obesity in Somali Immigrants to Usa

Background. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in most developed countries (and in urban areas of many less developed countries) has been increasing markedly over the past two decades. Sixty four percent of US population is overweight, and 31% are obese. Overweight and obesity are signifficantly associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status. Migrants to the United States usually adopt the eating and exercise patterns of the US population. Migration is also associated with improvement in standard of living and increases in psychosocial stress, weight, salt intake, alcohol intake, blood pressure, lipids, and more diabetes and coronary artery disease. The migration of 10,000 Somalis to the Minneapolis area since 1993 offers the opportunity to assess the prevalence and trends of overweight, obesity, and associated diseases after an average of 5 years living in the United States. Methods. We used the Centers for Disease Control rapid epidemiologic survey to assess cardiovascular risk factors in Somali immigrants in Minneapolis. We sampled 36 clusters with at least 7 subjects per cluster $18 years who were home at the time of the sample. Height, weight and three seated blood pressures (BP) were taken by trained observers (Shared Care Method), and blood was sampled for HbA1c, cholesterol (TC), and HDL. Results. The average age was 38.5 (SD 16.3), and the mean BMI was 24 (CI 23–25) in men and 29 (CI 28–30) in women. One hundred-fifty (61%) were overweight or obese, and 67 (27%) were obese. Of obese subjects, 54 (67%) were women; only 2 were men. Twenty-two subjects (20 women and 2 men) had morbid obesity (BMI$35). Most morbidly obese women (60%) were aged 40–65 years. The prevalence of HTN (SBP$140 and/or DPB$90 or on HTN medication) in overweight and obese subjects was only 4%. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (HbA1c$7.0 or on diabetes medication) was 6%. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia (TC : HDL ratio .5 : 1) was 5%. Conclusions. Somali immigrants in Minneapolis not only adopted the eating habits of the US population but also reached the same epidemic rate of overweight and obesity. Fortunately the obesity in Somalis even among women age 40–65 was not associated with diabetes, HTN, or hypercholesterolemia. A follow-up study will tell if this trend holds. At this time in the epidemiologic transition major focus should be health education in the areas of exercise and balanced diet.