Last December, a Taiwanese researcher released data regarding overweight and obesity among children in Taiwan. These data suggest that the rate of overweight and obesity among Taiwanese children has surged from 6% a decade ago to 25% today -- a four-fold increase in just ten years. This 25% rate of overweight and obesity is not far off US levels of about 33%.
The researcher, Dr. Chu Nian-feng of Shuang Ho Hospital near Taipei, speculates that Westernized diets and sedentary lifestyles are to blame for the epidemic. He noted that typical meals for Taiwanese children now approach 1,000 calories, as compared to 400 calories ten years ago. In addition, he states, “They watch TV, play video games, and sit in front of computers. How can they not become overweight?”
These data lead to one important question: Is a similar epidemic of childhood obesity occurring among Asian American children here in the United States?
Unfortunately, there is insufficient data to definitively answer this question. However, pieces of the puzzle do exist. For instance, 2005 data from a nationally representative sample of four-year-old children and found that Asian American children had an obesity rate of 12.8% -- significantly less than the national average of 18.4%. The rate among Asian American children was significantly lower than all other racial/ethnic groups, except non-Hispanic white children.
A separate study examined 2006 and 2007 rates of obesity among Asian American children (5th, 7th and 9th grades) attending public school in Los Angeles County. These data indicated a 12.1% rate of obesity among Asian American students – as compared to a rate of 22.9% among all students. (Data also indicated fairly significant variation by ethnic subgroup, with a range of 8.4% to 17.5% among Asian subgroups.)
Both studies would seem to indicate that current obesity rates among Asian American youth are significantly lower than general population rates. This is good news.
Unfortunately, there are some warning signs. Some study data suggest that the obesity rate is continuing to rise among Asian American youth while having leveled off among other racial/ethnic groups. In addition, according to the California Department of Public Health, 43% of Asian American teens consume fast food on a daily basis compared to 35% of white teens, and only one out of three Asian American children eats the recommended daily portion of fruits and vegetables. In addition to their poor eating habits, Asian American children may not be as physically active as their peers. Based on the U.S. Department of Education, only 39% of 10th grade Asian boys participated in after-school sports, the lowest participation rate of any ethnic group. Similarly, only 34% of 10th grade Asian girls participated in sports, second only to Hispanic girls at 32%.
Rather than wait for the perhaps inevitable increase in obesity rates among AAPI children, it is imperative that those of us working in Asian American health act quickly to get in front of an impending epidemic. APCA currently does not have any programming in the area of childhood obesity, but we remain vigilant regarding available resources and continue to monitor the peer-reviewed literature for evidence-based approaches.
The researcher, Dr. Chu Nian-feng of Shuang Ho Hospital near Taipei, speculates that Westernized diets and sedentary lifestyles are to blame for the epidemic. He noted that typical meals for Taiwanese children now approach 1,000 calories, as compared to 400 calories ten years ago. In addition, he states, “They watch TV, play video games, and sit in front of computers. How can they not become overweight?”
These data lead to one important question: Is a similar epidemic of childhood obesity occurring among Asian American children here in the United States?
Unfortunately, there is insufficient data to definitively answer this question. However, pieces of the puzzle do exist. For instance, 2005 data from a nationally representative sample of four-year-old children and found that Asian American children had an obesity rate of 12.8% -- significantly less than the national average of 18.4%. The rate among Asian American children was significantly lower than all other racial/ethnic groups, except non-Hispanic white children.
A separate study examined 2006 and 2007 rates of obesity among Asian American children (5th, 7th and 9th grades) attending public school in Los Angeles County. These data indicated a 12.1% rate of obesity among Asian American students – as compared to a rate of 22.9% among all students. (Data also indicated fairly significant variation by ethnic subgroup, with a range of 8.4% to 17.5% among Asian subgroups.)
Both studies would seem to indicate that current obesity rates among Asian American youth are significantly lower than general population rates. This is good news.
Unfortunately, there are some warning signs. Some study data suggest that the obesity rate is continuing to rise among Asian American youth while having leveled off among other racial/ethnic groups. In addition, according to the California Department of Public Health, 43% of Asian American teens consume fast food on a daily basis compared to 35% of white teens, and only one out of three Asian American children eats the recommended daily portion of fruits and vegetables. In addition to their poor eating habits, Asian American children may not be as physically active as their peers. Based on the U.S. Department of Education, only 39% of 10th grade Asian boys participated in after-school sports, the lowest participation rate of any ethnic group. Similarly, only 34% of 10th grade Asian girls participated in sports, second only to Hispanic girls at 32%.
Rather than wait for the perhaps inevitable increase in obesity rates among AAPI children, it is imperative that those of us working in Asian American health act quickly to get in front of an impending epidemic. APCA currently does not have any programming in the area of childhood obesity, but we remain vigilant regarding available resources and continue to monitor the peer-reviewed literature for evidence-based approaches.
- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
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