NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1467182
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Feb
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1090-1981
EISSN: EISSN-1552-6127
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Risk Factors Associated with General and Abdominal Obesity among South Asian Minorities in Hong Kong
Gary Ka-Ki Chung1,2; Heidi Hung1; Danna Camille Vargas1; Woohyung Lee1; Bulbul Sharma1; Lee Sha Tong1; Tsz Lui Tang1; Hasiba Munir1; Chi Yui Wong1; Eliza Lai-Yi Wong1; Dong Dong1; Eng-Kiong Yeoh1,2
Health Education & Behavior, v52 n1 p61-72 2025
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.
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
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Hong Kong; Pakistan; Nepal; India; Bangladesh; Sri Lanka
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; 2CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China