188707 Relatives migration to the US and overweight among Mexican school-age children

Monday, October 27, 2008: 5:15 PM

Mario Flores, MD, MSc , Nutrition and Health Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Marta Rivera, MSc , Nutrition and Health Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Nayeli Macías, MSc , Nutrition and Health Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Simon Barquera, MD, MSc, PhD , Nutrition and Health Research Center, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
     
The objective was to evaluate the influence of relativesx migration to the US on weight status among rural Mexican children.

Anthropometric measurements, body composition and physical

activity were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 119 school-age children (9-12y) with at least one household member living in the US and sending remittances, and 120 community-matched children who did not have a relative living in the US. Data on physical activity was obtained (steps/d during 7d). BMI was calculated as W/H2(kg/m2). Mean age was 10.9 ± 1.03y. Mean BMI was 20.4 ±

4.1. Average steps/d was 12,359 ± 4487. Mean percent body fat was 35.4 ± 7.9. Forty-seven percent were girls. According to Cole's BMI cutoffs, 52.2% of children had normal weight, 28.4% were overweight, and 13.4% were obese.

After adjusting by age and community, logistic regression analysis showed a 35% reduction in the risk of obesity, per 1000 steps/d, among girls with a migrant relative (OR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.44, 0.97).

Among those without a migrant relative, a 19% reduction in the risk of obesity per 1000 steps/d was observed in boys, but not in girls (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.68, 0.98), (p for interaction=0.067).

A relative's migration to the US is related to sex- differential effects of physical activity in weight status among these rural Mexican school-age children.

Funded by CONACyT, Mexico; No. 2005-01-14089.

Learning Objectives:
To evaluate the effect that migration of a relative to the US has on child´s risk of overweight.

Keywords: Obesity, Migrant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an MD, MSc (Epidemiology) and PhD (Candidate) in International Nutrition (Tufts University). I have been working as a researcher/teacher at the National Institute of Public Health in Cuernavaca. Mexico for 13 years. Currently I am PI of a research project related to the effect of migration to the US on diet and physical activity patterns in Mexican school-age children. Previous work and peer-reviewed publications are related to obesity in children adolescents and adults in Mexico, dietary patterns, child growth, micronutrient supplements, undernutrition, breastfeeding, nutritional immunity and nutrition-related chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dyslipidemia.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Danone de Mexico Food Industry/ Product developmene Advisory Committee/Board, Consultant and Speaker's bureau and teaching engagements
AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee/Board, Consultant and Speaker's bureau and teaching engagements
Medix Labs. Pharmaceutical / Product development Advisory Committee/Board, Consultant and Speaker's bureau and teaching engagements

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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