Study: Being Born in the United States Not Good for Latino Health

A recent study conducted at the University of Southern California finds that immigrants from Mexico are in better health than Mexican Americans born here in the United States. Mexican Americans born in the USA suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and have higher cholesterol levels than those who emigrate from Mexico.

In a news release, the University of Southern California cites the possible cause for the bad health of Mexicans born in the USA is due to poor nutrition and less physical activity.

Eileen Crimmins, lead author of the study and professor of gerontology USC, gives an explanation as to why American born Mexicans are in such poor health.

"One possible explanation is that people who immigrate are healthy to begin with and they may also have come here with better health habits. The generation born here has adopted American traits such as smoking and eating at fast food restaurants that were not as accessible in more traditional parts of Mexico."

The study included risk factors across various ethnic groups. According to the USC Davis School of Gerontology and the UCLA School of Medicine, researchers found that not only American born Mexicans are in poor health compared to those who emigrate from Mexico; they are also in worse health than whites of the same socioeconomic background. Foreign born Latinos matched their white counterparts. The African-American population is the only ethnic group with a higher risk of disease.

The research was conducted by gathering data dating between 1999 and 2002 from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES). Cholesterol levels, blood pressure and Body Mass Index ratings were important dynamics in the study. Population groups researchers analyzed were blacks, whites, U.S. born Latinos, foreign born Latinos and Latinos born in Mexico. Researchers came to their conclusions with using age, socioeconomic status and gender.

In a study soon to be published in Social Biology, USC research finds that immigrants born in Mexico who come to the United States are taller, and have better childhood nutrition than those who remain in Mexico. Results of this study show that migrants are selected based on health and socio economic standings.

SOURCE:

News Release:

University of Southern California Media Relations
Los Angeles, Calif.

http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/newsroom/news_release_detail.php?id=301