Exploring the Impact of Length of Residence and Food Insecurity on Weight Status Among Canadian Immigrants

• Published in: American journal of health promotion Vol. 38; no. 8; pp. 1095 - 1103
• Main Author: Chai, Lei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2024; American Journal of Health Promotion
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Body weight; Canada; Community health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data; Female; Food Insecurity; Food security; Health Surveys; Healthy food; Households; Humans; Immigrants; Insecurity; Length of residency; Long term; Male; Medical personnel; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - ethnology; Overweight; Overweight - epidemiology; Overweight - ethnology; Policy making; Psychosocial factors; Quantitative Research; Residence; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Sex Factors; Side effects; Time Factors; Well being; Young Adult; Canada; Canada; food insecurity; length of residence; overweight; obesity; immigrants
• ISSN: 0890-1171; 2168-6602; 2168-6602
• DOI: 10.1177/08901171241246842

Purpose While the individual impacts of long-term residence and food insecurity on overweight/obesity are well-documented, their combined effect on immigrants’ weight status is less understood. This study examines the interaction between length of residence and food insecurity in predicting overweight/obesity among immigrants and investigates whether this relationship is gender-specific. Design A national cross-sectional survey. Setting The 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey. Subjects Immigrants aged 18 and older (N = 13 680). Measures All focal variables were self-reported. Analysis Logistic regression models were employed. Results Long-term immigrants were more likely to report overweight/obesity than their short-term counterparts (OR = 1.39; P < .001). Moreover, immigrants from food-insecure households were at a higher risk of reporting overweight/obesity (OR = 1.27; P < .05) compared to those from food-secure households. The analysis further revealed that food insecurity exacerbated the detrimental association between length of residence and overweight/obesity in men (OR = 2.63; P < .01) but not in women (OR = .66; P > .05). Conclusion The findings suggest that long-term immigrant men may be especially susceptible to the compounded chronic stressors of extended residence and food insecurity. Health professionals and policymakers should advocate for psychosocial resources to help mitigate these adverse effects and support the well-being of immigrant populations.