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PubMed1996

Comparisons of blood pressure between Asian-American children and children from other racial groups in Chicago.

RESEARCHERS COMPARED AVERAGE BLOOD PRESSURE, prevalence of elevated blood pressure, and average anthropometric measurements of Asian children with those same measures in children from other racial and ethnic groups, including blacks, whites, and Hispanics. The sample consisted of 1318 boys and 1548 girls ages 6 to 9 who had complete blood pressure and anthropometric data, which were derived from a health screening program in nonpublic schools conducted by the Chicago Department of Health from 1975 to 1978. The systolic pressure, adjusted for age, weight, and height, for Asian, black, Hispanic, and white boys was 108.1, 105.8, 104.7, and 105.6 mmHg, and for diastolic pressure, the adjusted values were 59.6, 58.9, 56.3, and 57.4 mmHg. For both systolic and diastolic, the differences between Asian boys and white boys and between Asian boys and Hispanic boys were statistically significant. For girls, the results were similar. In addition, for boys, the prevalence rates of elevated blood pressure (systolic greater than or equal to 122 mmHg or diastolic greater than or equal to 78 mmHg) were similar among the four groups. For girls, the prevalence rate for Asians was higher than those in the other groups; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Since hypertension is a major health problem in Asians, it is important to confirm these findings and to understand why mean blood pressure adjusted for age and body size is higher in Asian children than in other racial groups.

Asian↗
PubMed1998

Sexual aggression among Asian Americans: risk and protective factors.

Rates of sexual aggression among Asian Americans are relatively low. It is possible that these low rates are because Asian Americans are less likely than other groups to develop developmental, motivational, and situational risk factors associated with sexual aggression. Moreover, an emphasis in Asian cultures on self-control of sexual and aggressive behavior may serve as a protective factor. Nevertheless, patriarchal aspects of Asian cultures may place some Asian Americans at risk for sexual victimization or perpetration of sexually aggressive behavior. Although Asian Americans may be at less risk for sexual aggression than other groups, interventions that counteract the patriarchal aspects of Asian cultures may further reduce risk.

Aggression↗
PubMed2002

Evolutionary significance of cranial variation in Asian Homo erectus.

Homo erectus inhabited a wide geographic area of Asia, ranging from 40 degrees north latitude in China to 8 degrees south latitude in island Southeast Asia. Yet variation within Asian H. erectus and its relation to ecological and temporal parameters have been little studied. I synthesize the revised radiometric chronologies for hominid sites in Asia and their relation to new oxygen isotope curves (proxies for climatic fluctuations and landbridge connections). These data suggest substantial opportunities in the later Pleistocene for both regional isolation and gene flow between hominids in mainland and Southeast Asia. They also suggest that the most northerly located Chinese sites (Zhoukoudian and Nanjing) may have been occupied during sequential, interglacial periods. Probably reflecting these periods of isolation, nonmetric features and principal components analysis (PCA) of calvarial shape suggest regional differentiation between northern Asian and Southeast Asian H. erectus. The most recent Southeast Asian fossils (e.g., Ngandong) conform to the Southeast Asian pattern. Except perhaps in brain size, there is no evidence that the temporally intermediate Chinese fossils are intermediate in morphology between older and younger Indonesian fossils. In fact, northern Chinese calvaria are easier to exclude from the larger Asian H. erectus hypodigm than are the Ngandong fossils. The Chinese specimens differ from the others based on their narrower occipitals and frontals for their cranial size. The Chinese sample from Zhoukoudian alone is thus not a good proxy for the morphology and variation seen within Asian H. erectus. Both the Chinese and late Indonesian samples exhibit less variation than does the early Indonesian sample; this along with their shared morphological bauplan suggests a common origin and no more than subspecific differentiation. This shared morphology, despite regional differences, was likely maintained by the increasing intensity of multiple glaciations (and longer-lasting land bridge connections) between mainland and island Southeast Asia during the last million years.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The role of conflict with parents in disordered eating among British Asian females.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found British Asian schoolgirls' EAT-26 (Eating Attitudes Test) scores to be higher than those of White schoolgirls and positively associated with parental overprotection as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). This study aimed to determine whether conflict with parents is associated with EAT scores in young British Asian student-aged females. METHODS: Participants completed three questionnaires. A Parent Conflict Questionnaire was devised, consisting of items regarding Role of Women, Marriage Choices, Going Out, and Choice of Friends. This was administered along with the PBI and EAT-26 to equivalent groups of 82 White and 55 Asian females. RESULTS: Contrary to hypothesis there were no significant differences between Whites and Asians on EAT scores. PBI parental overprotection scores and all conflict scores were, however, higher among the Asians. EAT scores and conflict with parents over Going Out and Choice of Friends were correlated in the Asian group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that British Asian female conflicts with parents over socializing may be one factor that leads to the development of eating disturbances in this population. However, limitations of the study concerned with sampling, self-report and cross-sectional rather than longitudinal data gathering suggests further work needs to be done to examine socio-cultural correlates of eating disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Y chromosomal DNA variation in east Asian populations and its potential for inferring the peopling of Korea.

We have examined variations of five polymorphic loci (DYS287, DXYS5Y, SRY465, DYS19, and DXYS156Y) on the Y chromosome in samples from a total of 1260 males in eight ethnic groups of East Asia. We found four unique haplotypes constructed from three biallelic markers in these samples of East Asians. The Japanese population was characterized by a relatively high frequency of either the haplotype I-2b (-/Y2/T) or II-1 (+/Y1/C). These dual patterns of the distribution of Y chromosomes (I-2b/II-1) were also found in Korea, although they were present at relatively low frequencies. The haplotype II-1 was present in Northeast Asian populations (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Mongolians) only, except for one male from the Thai population among the Southeast Asian populations (Indonesians, Philippines, Thais, and Vietnamese). The Japanese were revealed to have the highest frequency of this haplotype (27.5%), followed by Koreans (2.9%), Mongolians (2.6%), and mainland Chinese (2.2%). In contrast, the frequency of the haplotype I-2b was found to be 17.1% in the Japanese, 9.5% in Indonesian, 6.3% in Korean, 3.8% in Vietnamese, and 2.7% in Thai samples. These findings suggested that the chromosomes of haplotype I-2b were likely derived from certain areas of Northeast Asia, the region closest to Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining tree also reflected a general distinction between Southeast and Northeast Asian populations. The phylogeny revealed a closer genetic relationship between Japanese and Koreans than to the other surveyed Asian populations. Based on the result of the dual patterns of the haplotype distribution, it is more likely that the population structure of Koreans may not have evolved from a single ancient population derived from Northeast Asians, but through dual infusions of Y chromosomes entering Korea from two different waves of East Asians.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMed1995

Dietary fat purchasing habits in whites, blacks and Asian peoples in England--implications for heart disease prevention.

The mortality and morbidity from coronary heart disease (CHD) is higher in people of South Asian origin than in whites, but is significantly lower in the black (Afro-Caribbean origin) community in the United Kingdom. To investigate whether this may be related to differences in fatty food intake, we performed a questionnaire survey of the weekly food purchasing habits and preparation methods in white, black (Caribbean) and Asian households in Birmingham. We interviewed 224 housewives from three ethnic groups (84 white, 76 black/Afro-Caribbean and 72 Asian). The highest quantity of fat in foods purchased per week was found in the Asian population (median 1409 g/week per person, interquartile range (IQR) 850-1952), which was significantly greater than black subjects, who had the lowest quantity of fat in foods purchased (1012 g/week per person, IQR 835-1388) (Mann-Whitney test:median differences 300.5, 95% C.I. 23.3-600.4, P = 0.029). The median quantity of fat in foods purchased by the white households was intermediate, at 1186 g/week per person (IQR 861-1711). There was a higher quantity of fat in foods purchased in the lower social classes (IV and V) in both the white and Asian populations. Butter, egg and milk consumption was significantly greater in Asians; with ghee consumption almost exclusive amongst this group (98%). Amongst whites and blacks, the commonest food preparation methods were grilling, boiling or poaching; whilst amongst Asians, frying was more common (chi 2 = 81.25, d.f. = 4, P < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A comparison of the clinical features and vascular complications of diabetes between migrant Asians and Caucasians in Leicester, U.K.

907 consecutive patients, (456 Asian and 451 Caucasian) were assessed, employing a similar methodology to the multi-centre WHO study. The Asians were older at diagnosis (46.5 years compared with 40.6 years, P less than 0.01); they had a shorter duration of diabetes (6.3 years versus 11.4 years, P less than 0.1), a higher rate of diabetes in the first degree relatives (29.5% compared with 16%, P less than 0.1), less ketonuria at presentation (85.3% compared with 47.8%, P less than 0.1), and fewer were treated with insulin (31.4% compared with 68.7%). Comparing the prevalence of complications between Asians and Caucasians, the ischaemic heart disease rate was similar; peripheral vascular disease was less (3.7% Asian, 9.3% Caucasian, P less than 0.05); retinopathy was less (11.6% Asian, 32.3% Caucasian, P less than 0.01) but renal disease was more (22.3% Asian, 12.6% Caucasian, P less than 0.01). After adjusting for age, sex, duration of diabetes, age at diagnosis, hypertension, smoking and treatment with or without insulin, these differences remained significant. Multivariate logistic regression failed to reveal a significant contribution due to any of the above variables, or due to body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin A (HbA1), or physical activity in the prevalence of complications in Asians compared with Caucasians. Marked heterogeneity in the complications of diabetes in the two ethnic groups studied was found, but must be confirmed from population-based studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The inter-relationship of folk, traditional and Western medicine within an Asian community in Britain.

A community-based interview study of Asians and a questionnaire study of health professionals were performed to ascertain the role of traditional medicine in the context of health care within the Asian community. Among Asians, knowledge of herbal remedies, the Asian healer and cultural concepts such as the 'hot/cold' theory was high. They frequently used culinary ingredients to treat common diseases such as abdominal discomfort, earache and toothache. The use of metal-based medications was rare, application of the 'hot/cold' concept was not of nutritional significance and Asian healers were infrequently consulted except during visits to India and Pakistan. Among health professionals awareness of Asian medicine was low. None had encountered morbidity resulting from its remedies while 50% felt that such remedies should be encouraged unless shown to be harmful. Traditional medicine was found to play a modest but not insignificant role within the context of total health care. There was little evidence that is use comprises a significant health threat. Opportunities for further research and a prediction of the future of Asian medicine in Britain is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Metric and non-metric randomization methods, geographic variation, and the single-species hypothesis for Asian and African Homo erectus.

This paper proposes a statistical test of the single-species hypothesis using non-metric characters as a complement to statistical tests using more traditional metric characters. The sample examined is that of Asian and African Homo erectus. The paleoanthropological community is divided on the taxonomic distinction of these fossils, with workers arguing both for and against the species-level distinction between Asian and African populations. Previous arguments have focused on patterns of apparent morphological differentiation between the African and Asian cranial samples. To assess this question, three tests were performed that compared the range of variation in the fossil sample to a single-species group with a similar geographic distribution; this comparative sample was composed of 221 modern humans from Africa and Asia. For the first test, 23 metric characters were analyzed on the fossil and comparative samples. Using resampling procedures, the variation for these characters was examined, recreating 1000 samples from the human analogs and comparing the CV distributions of these samples to the CVs of the fossil group. The second test used the metric data to calculate a Euclidean distance between the African and Asian fossil samples. This distance was compared to a distribution of Euclidean distances calculated between 1000 randomly selected samples of African and Asian modern humans. For the third test, a grading scale was created for ten non-metric characters that encompassed the total morphological variation found in the fossil and modern human samples. The Manhattan distance between the Asian and African fossil samples was calculated and compared to a distribution of distances calculated between 1000 randomly selected samples of African and Asian moderns. The first two tests, using the metric data, failed to falsify the null hypothesis. However, in the third test, using non-metric data, the total Manhattan distance for the fossil sample approached the 100th percentile of the resampled distances calculated from the moderns. The implications of the contrasting results are discussed.

Africa↗
PubMed2003

Cross-cultural comparison of neurobehavioral performance in Asian workers.

Widely-used neurobehavioral tests have been developed and standardized on Western populations, but studies on subject factors for Asian populations have been very limited. For the effective application and interpretation of neurobehavioral tests in Asian populations, an evaluation of the effects of subject factors, including cultural background, is necessary. A cross-cultural study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cultural background and the interaction between cultural background and education on neurobehavioral tests in Asian populations. The Korean version of the Swedish Performance Evaluation System (Simple Reaction Time, Symbol Digit, and Finger Tapping Speed) and a pegboard test were administered to 537 workers who were not exposed to chemicals at work from Fareast (Korea and Chinese), Central (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), and South Asia (Sri Lanka and Indonesia). The Fareast Asian group exhibited better performance in adjusted test scores than other Asian groups, achieving significance for Symbol Digit and Finger Tapping Speed in both genders. The magnitude of the effect of cultural background on Symbol Digit was comparable to the effect of about 10 years of education. Cultural background did not modify the relation between years of education and Symbol Digit in either males or females. This study may provide the first evidence that cultural background has a large impact on neurobehavioral test performance, even within Asian populations, and suggests that cultural background is a critical confounding factor that must be controlled in epidemiologic studies which include Asian populations in the sample.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Serological evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection in UK South Asian and European populations: implications for gastric cancer and coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of serological evidence of infection with Helicobacter pylori among people of South Asian and European ethnic origins and to assess its association with prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: We used a quantitative method to compare IgG antibodies to H. pylori in a population sample of 300 South Asians and 302 Europeans in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. RESULTS: For men and women, respectively, H. pylori IgG (95% confidence interval) was 16.7 microg/ml (13.9, 20.2) and 11.3 (9.4, 13.5) among Europeans and 11.6 (9.8, 13.7) and 14.3 (12.1, 16.9) among South Asians. Levels were higher in older participants and in those of lower socioeconomic status. The ratio of geometric mean IgG, (95% confidence interval) adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic status, in those with and without CHD was 1.02 (0.49, 2.11) among Europeans and 1.79 (1.01, 3.17) among South Asians. Antibodies against staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B were higher among South Asians than Europeans. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection among UK South Asians does not reflect that of their countries of origin, nor their lower prevalence of gastric cancer. The association with CHD in South Asians requires corroboration in other studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Use of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to distinguish Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius L. (North American ginseng).

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method was developed to distinguish Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) and North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.). The method is based on the baseline chromatographic separation of ginsenoside Rf and 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11, two potential chemical markers present in ginseng root methanolic extracts, and their unambiguous on-line identification using tandem mass spectrometry. Consistent with the literature, 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11 was detected in abundance in North American ginseng roots in excess of 0.1% (w/w) of the dried root. In contrast to some reports, 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11 was also identified in Asian ginseng roots at trace levels using LC-MS-MS but at less than 0.0001% (w/w). Besides showing identical tandem mass spectra to authentic 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11, the corresponding compound in Asian ginseng root coeluted with standard under different HPLC conditions, thus confirming this compound as 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11. Another ginsenoside often used to distinguish Asian and North American ginseng, ginsenoside Rf, was found in abundance in Asian ginseng roots at more than 0.021% (w/w). In Asian ginseng roots, the ratio of ginsenoside Rf to 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11 exceeded 700:1. The limit of detection of ginsenoside Rf or 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11 was 120 pg injected on-column, and the limit of quantification was 240 pg on-column. In summary, LC-MS-MS analysis of ginseng products for the presence and ratio of ginsenoside Rf and 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11 may be used for the unambiguous identification of Asian and North American ginsengs.

Asia↗
PubMed2002

Genetic polymorphism of apolipoprotein C polypeptide in native Asian sheep.

The frequency distributions of apolipoprotein C alleles in native Asian sheep (Bengal, Kagi, Lampuchhre, Vietnamese, Myanmar, Baruwal, Bhyanglung, Khalkhas, and Kuwait) were determined using a one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel isoelectric-focusing immunoblotting technique. Among these Asian sheep, the genetic locus consisted mainly of two common APOC*1 and APOC*3 alleles. The Baruwal sheep most frequently possessed APOC*1 (0.9881), showing significant differences from all other Asian sheep in allele frequency (0.7195-0.9032, P < 0.02). Compared with European sheep tested previously, these Asian sheep had significantly higher frequencies of APOC*1 (0.7828 and 0.7127 averages, P < 0.0005) and APOC*3 (0.2162 and 0.11 averages, P < 0.0001). In particular, APOC*2 was detected at an extremely low frequency (0.0025) in the Khalkhas sheep only, and was uncommon in all Asian sheep (0.001 average), in contrast with the 0.1773 average of European sheep (P < 0.00001). This finding suggests that APOC*2 is exceedingly rare in Asian sheep. With the exception of triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol in the Vietnamese sheep, no phenotypic effects on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in the Asian sheep tested were seen.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

South Asians with ulcerative colitis exhibit altered lectin binding compared with matched European cases.

Ulcerative colitis is associated with abnormalities of mucin synthesis and secretion, features that may also be associated with malignant change. It has been shown that South Asians in Britain have a high incidence of ulcerative colitis but a low incidence of colorectal carcinoma compared with their European counterparts. Previous studies have demonstrated changes in colonic mucin sialylation and sulphation in both South Asian and European cases with ulcerative colitis. This was related to disease severity, but changes were also found in quiescent disease. The aim of the present study was to determine glycoconjugate expression in the colon from South Asian cases and to compare results with those from a group of affected Europeans. Glycans were identified in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 17 South Asian patients with ulcerative colitis and from 11 European patients with a similar degree of colitis, by the application of 10 biotinylated lectins. These were directed against a range of sialyl, fucosyl and 2-deoxy, 2-acetamido-galactosyl sequences, using an avidin-peroxidase revealing system and semiquantitative assessment. The South Asian group showed a reduction in the binding of agglutinins from Sambucus nigra in the apical-membranous region of enterocytes, and a decrease in apical Maackia amurensis agglutinin binding. These results suggest that South Asians with ulcerative colitis show a different distribution of terminal N-acetyl neuraminyl residues, either in their alpha-2,6 or alpha-2,3 linkage, compared with their European counterparts. The changes in sialylation observed in European cases compared with normal disease-free control subjects were present in quiescent disease, but were also related to disease activity. Their absence in Asians with ulcerative colitis may imply an inherent, genetically determined variation in this group, which may also play a part in their reduced risk of subsequent malignancy.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMed2001

Evolution of Asian monsoons and phased uplift of the Himalaya-Tibetan plateau since Late Miocene times.

The climates of Asia are affected significantly by the extent and height of the Himalayan mountains and the Tibetan plateau. Uplift of this region began about 50 Myr ago, and further significant increases in altitude of the Tibetan plateau are thought to have occurred about 10-8 Myr ago, or more recently. However, the climatic consequences of this uplift remain unclear. Here we use records of aeolian sediments from China and marine sediments from the Indian and North Pacific oceans to identify three stages of evolution of Asian climates: first, enhanced aridity in the Asian interior and onset of the Indian and east Asian monsoons, about 9-8 Myr ago; next, continued intensification of the east Asian summer and winter monsoons, together with increased dust transport to the North Pacific Ocean, about 3.6-2.6 Myr ago; and last, increased variability and possible weakening of the Indian and east Asian summer monsoons and continued strengthening of the east Asian winter monsoon since about 2.6 Myr ago. The results of a numerical climate-model experiment, using idealized stepwise increases of mountain-plateau elevation, support the argument that the stages in evolution of Asian monsoons are linked to phases of Himalaya-Tibetan plateau uplift and to Northern Hemisphere glaciation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Dietary and lifestyle factors affecting plasma vitamin D levels in Asian children living in England.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the vitamin D status of a sample of young Asian children living in England by measurement of plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels; to relate biochemical measurements with parameters of diet, lifestyle and iron status in this population. DESIGN: The 'Infant Feeding in Asian Families' survey covered infants born to mothers of Bangladeshi, Indian or Pakistani origin, plus a sample of children born to White mothers in 41 local authority areas. The current study describes vitamin D values in a sub sample of Asian children from that survey. SETTING: Forty-one local authority areas which covered 95% of the Asian population at the time of the 1991 Census and include areas with the highest and lowest density of Asians. SUBJECTS: Seventy-one percent (2382) of mothers who were originally eligible were interviewed on four occasions up to the time their infant was 15 months. One thousand, seven hundred and thirty-eight of these children were followed up for this current study. Of these 618 had a blood sample analysed for vitamin D. OUTCOME MEASURES: Previous day's food intake, normal dietary intake, indicators of iron status and plasma vitamin D levels. RESULTS: Plasma vitamin D values are lower in the three groups of Asian children than values reported for children of a similar age in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Between one third and a half of children with a low haemoglobin also had low plasma vitamin D values; there was a significant association between failure to take a vitamin supplement, chapati consumption and low vitamin D values. CONCLUSIONS: It is particularly important that pre-school Asian children receive a vitamin D supplement. Children with low haemoglobin values should be screened for vitamin D deficiency.

Asia, Western↗
PubMed2004

Impact of age and duration on sight-threatening retinopathy in South Asians and Caucasians attending a diabetic clinic.

AIMS: To examine diabetic retinopathy in Asians and Caucasians attending a hospital diabetic clinic and to evaluate the impact of the significant risk factors on the probability of sight-threatening retinopathy. METHODS: A total of 500 diabetic patients (268 Asians, 232 Caucasians) who attended a diabetic clinic within a defined time period were examined for severity of diabetic retinopathy. The existence of sight-threatening retinopathy (STR) was compared in the two groups. Significant risk factors such as age, duration and hypertension were analysed against the probability of STR in each of the two races. RESULTS: Asians demonstrated significantly higher rates of STR. Univariate analysis showed age, duration, race, gender, and insulin-requiring status to be significantly associated with STR. Multivariate logistic regression showed a significant association of STR with race, age and duration of diabetes, with no significant interaction effects between variables. The logistic regression model predicted STR in Asians to be matched to that in Caucasians by a 12.5-year difference factor; that is, Caucasians were older by 12.5 years or had a 12.5-year longer duration than Asians for the same level of STR. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for age and duration of diabetes, the probability of STR in Asian diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinics in Bradford is significantly higher than that in Caucasians (odds ratio=3.184, P<0.05). The impact of age and duration was significantly higher in patients of South Asian origin compared to Caucasians.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Factors associated with obesity in South Asian, Afro-Caribbean and European women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate correlates of body mass index (BMI) and other anthropometric measurements in South Asian, Afro-Caribbean and European women in the UK. SUBJECTS: 291 South Asian, 303 Afro-Caribbean, and 559 European women aged 40-69y in West London, UK. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHt), and skinfold thicknesses. RESULTS: Compared with European women, South Asian and Afro-Caribbean women were more like to be obese (odds ratios (OR) 1.83 and 3.01, respectively), but less likely to rate themselves as overweight (BMI-adjusted OR 0.19 and 0.34, respectively). The proportion of women who walked at least 2.5 km/d, excluding activity at work, was lower in South Asians (22%) than in Europeans (44%) or Afro-Caribbeans (40%). Among employed women, the proportion who were active at work was higher in South Asians (63%) and Afro-Caribbeans (70%) than in Europeans (49%). In Europeans, obesity was inversely associated with social class, education, smoking, alcohol intake, and distance walked, and positively associated with time spent watching television. Adjustment for alcohol intake, smoking, education and transport, physical activity explained over 80% of the difference in BMI between South Asians and Europeans, but not the difference between Afro-Caribbeans and Europeans. CONCLUSION: The factor that may be most amenable to intervention in South Asian women is low physical activity outside the workplace. The high prevalence of obesity in Afro-Caribbean women, however, is not accounted for by any behavioural factors measured in this study, and the reasons for high rates of obesity in this group remain to be established.

Adult↗