Full Citation

Title: Diet or Exercise? Evidence from Body Mass Index of U.S. Immigrants

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2014

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Abstract: BACKGROUND The healthy immigrant effect has been well-documented in many developed countries. In the United States, Body Mass Index (BMI) convergence of immigrants is cited as a cause for their health deterioration. Unhealthy BMI is a product of imbalances in diet and physical activity. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we determine the relative contributions of diet and exercise to the BMI assimilation of immigrants. We examine the impact of different food groups on weight changes, and we investigate the causes for the dietary changes. METHODS We use data from four waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We investigate the initial gaps in food consumption and physical activity levels and the convergence in these variables, for immigrants’ vis-à-vis natives in a linear regression framework. We include a variety of socio-economic controls, and we stratify immigrants into age groups. We also consider heterogeneity in assimilation patterns across income-levels and countries-of-origin. CONCLUSION Upon arrival, immigrants consume fewer fats than natives. Older immigrants increase fat consumption over their U.S. residency. On the other hand, longer-residing immigrants are more physically active. Diet, rather than exercise, has a larger impact on immigrant BMI. Income affects the food choices of poorer immigrants. Country-oforigin differences are also important in determining diets. COMMENTS 1.2 million immigrants are added to the U.S. population annually. Healthcare expenditures could increase if obesity-related diseases plague the burgeoning foreign-born population. Policies that target healthy eating habits of this population could benefit their civic assimilation.

Url: https://www.usna.edu/Users/econ/insler/documents/DietOrExercise_BasuInsler.pdf

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Authors: Basu, Sukanya; Insler, Michael

Publisher: Vassar College

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Health

Countries: United States