Risk groups for overweight and obesity among Turkish and Moroccan migrants in The Netherlands

Summary 

Objectives

The association between sociodemographic factors and acculturation with overweight/obesity in Turks and Moroccans was studied to identify target groups for prevention.

Study design

A cross-sectional study was undertaken among a sample of 1384 Turks and Moroccans aged 35–74 years in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Methods

Data were collected by structured face-to-face interviews. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight data. Sociodemographic variables collected were sex, age, educational level, marital status, parity and income level. Acculturation was measured by cultural orientation and length of residence in The Netherlands. Data of 1095 Turks and Moroccans were analysed using logistic regression, with overweight/obesity (BMI ⩾25.0) as the dependent variable.

Results

The prevalence of overweight/obesity was high (57–89%). Age, marital status, parity, income level, cultural orientation and length of residence were not associated or only weakly associated with overweight/obesity. Educational level and overweight/obesity were strongly associated in Turkish women (odds ratio 4.56; 95% confidence intervals 1.54–13.51).

Conclusions

The high prevalence of overweight/obesity in Turkish and Moroccan migrants varies little across sociodemographic groups and is not associated with acculturation. Poorly educated Turkish women are at particularly high risk.

Keywords: Overweight, Obesity, Ethnicity, Sociodemographic characteristics, Acculturation