Obesity and modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors among Chinese Americans in New York City, 2009–2012

We used the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Across the US (REACH US) Risk Factor Survey from 2009 through 2012 to examine the association between body mass index (BMI, calculated as kg/m2) and 3 cardiovascular disease risk factors among Chinese Americans in New York City. We used traditional BMI cut points and cut points modified for the Asian population. Compared with normal/underweight Chinese American adults (BMI <23.0), obese Chinese American adults (BMI ≥27.5) had significantly higher odds of having each risk factor in fully adjusted logistic regression models: diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8–6.2), high blood pressure (OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 3.9–7.7), and high cholesterol (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2–2.4). Regression results were similar across BMI definitions, suggesting that both BMI categorizations should be considered in CVD research among Chinese Americans. (author abstract)