Obesity has reached epidemic levels in the United States (U.S.). Despite an increasing number of studies on obesity, a very few have addressed this debilitating condition among Asian American adults. The overall objective of this study is to utilize the latest cycles of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to better understand obesity and identify its correlates among Asian Americans. The study population comprised Asian American adults aged 18 years or older from the CHIS with data pooled from the 2013 and 2014 survey years. Obesity (≥27.5 kg/m2) was defined using the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian body mass index (BMI) cut points. This study examined differences in obesity prevalence across ethnically diverse groups, the association between geography and obesity, and investigated the influence of immigrant generation on obesity. Descriptive analyses were used to examine the prevalence of obesity. Weighted multiple logistic regression analyses were used for the analyses. The prevalence of obesity was 23.3% among Asian Americans. Compared to Whites, being Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese were associated with lower prevalence of obesity (Odd Ratio (OR) = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.18-0.45; OR=0.14, 95% CI=0.04-0.46; OR=0.28, 95% CI=0.14-0.58, respectively). Compared to Chinese, being Japanese and Filipino were associated with higher obesity prevalence (OR=2.75, 95% CI=1.52-4.95; OR=2.90, 95% CI=1.87-4.49). Living in rural areas was associated with lower prevalence of obesity in 2014 (OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.29-0.97). Being male was associated with higher prevalence of obesity overall, in 2013, and in 2014, respectively. In California, 1st generation of Asians had lower odds of being obese compared to Whites (OR=0.34, 95% CI=0.26-0.45). Among Asian adults, 2nd generation (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.10-2.60) and 3rd generation (OR=2.33, 95% CI=1.29-4.22) were associated with higher odds of being obese compared to 1st generation. Disparities in ethnicity/race, geography, and immigrant generations were observed in Asian Americans in California in 2013-2014. Our findings can help resolve controversies surrounding the obesity etiology, especially as applied to health disparities in Asian Americans, and help guide future obesity and health disparity elimination intervention efforts.

abstract: The purpose of this research was to understand the migration process as experienced by unaccompanied immigrant minors (UIMs). That is, to form a better understanding of why they seek migration, what motivates their migration, what happens to them on their migration journey, and how they adapt to their new communities in the United States. Using qualitative research methods, 60 semi-structured in-depth interviews were collected, along with 12 ethnographic interviews, and participant observations. The immigrants’ narratives were rich with data, and capture the plight that UIMs undertake as they leave their home countries. This study analyzes the dynamic of age in all facets of the migration process, by taking into account that children are participants of the migration process just as much as adults. The dissertation generated several findings; the first was to provide a profile of an Unaccompanied Minor, and for the sake of the study, only participants from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala were interviewed. From those interviewed, we learned that UIMs are a heterogeneous group. They come from diverse backgrounds in terms of household structures; (nuclear family structures, single-parent structures, extended-family structures, and migrant-family structures). Also, education levels varied; (some finished elementary or even secondary school, but for those living in rural areas it was harder to attend school due to the distance and availability of educational facilities). Many also worked in the labor force from an early age. One salient theme that UIMs talked about in relation to their home life was how the increase in violence in many Latin American countries was threatening their safety, especially for UIMs from El Salvador and Honduras. The next major finding was the ability to see the multiple stages UIMs experience, including: initiation/decisions to migrate, journey, arrival/adaptation and what takes place in each of these stages. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sociology 2016