Correlates of Overweight Status in Chinese Youth: An East-West Paradox

Citation

Hsu, Ya-Wen; Johnson, C. Anderson; Chou, Chih-Ping; Unger, Jennifer B.; Sun, Ping; Xie, Bin; Palmer, Paula H.; Gallaher, Peggy E.; & Spruijt-Metz, Donna (2011). Correlates of Overweight Status in Chinese Youth: An East-West Paradox. American Journal of Health Behavior, 35, 496-506.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the odds of overweight and related correlates in Chinese adolescents. Method: Cross-sectional study in 9023 adolescents. Results: Chinese youth were more likely to be overweight if they spent more time being sedentary; slept <7 hours/night; were male; were younger; participated more in vigorous physical activity; and had higher levels of parental education, a higher frequency of vegetable intake, and a lower frequency of sweet/fast food intake. Conclusions: Overweight-related correlates seem to play different roles in the Chinese culture than in Western cultures. This may be due to culture-specific perceptions and changes in lifestyle accompanying socioeconomic transitions.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.35.4.11

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2011

Journal Title

American Journal of Health Behavior

Author(s)

Hsu, Ya-Wen
Johnson, C. Anderson
Chou, Chih-Ping
Unger, Jennifer B.
Sun, Ping
Xie, Bin
Palmer, Paula H.
Gallaher, Peggy E.
Spruijt-Metz, Donna