Abstract: The Association between Perceived Discrimination and Body Mass Index Among Asian Women (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)
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473P The Association between Perceived Discrimination and Body Mass Index Among Asian Women

Schedule:
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
* noted as presenting author
Sarpong Boateng, MD, PhD, Doctoral Student, University of North Texas
Hyeouk Chris Hahm, PhD, Professor, Boston University School of Social Work, Boston, MA
Phuong Khanh Tran, BS, Research Assistant, Boston University College of Engineering, MA
Rajesh Gururaghavendran, PhD, Graduate Student, Boston University School of Public Health
Uyen-Sa Nguyen, DSc, Associate Professor, University of North Texas
Yvette Cozier, DSc, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice, Boston University School of Public Health
The recent surge in anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the levels of racism experienced by Asians in the US. Data in US Black and Latino populations have shown that racial discrimination can affect negative health outcomes, including higher body mass index (BMI). This relationship, however, has not been well studied among Asian Americans (AsA). Our analysis sought to address this gap.

We collected data on 157 AsA women (age 18-59 years old, median=26) between December 2019 and September 2022 as part of the Epigenetics of Asian Women's Action for Resilience and Empowerment (EPI-AWARE) study. We asked participants about their experiences using an online questionnaire measuring everyday (e.g., how often people act as if they are afraid of you) and lifetime discrimination (e.g., unfair treatment at school, work). A score was created combining the two measures and dichotomizing into high (≥3) versus low (<3). We used binomial regression to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for demographic, medical, and lifestyle variables.

More than 3/4 of participants (77%) reported high racial discrimination, and 23 % reported being overweight or obese (BMI ≥25kg/m2). The RR comparing women reporting high versus low levels of discrimination, on the association with BMI ≥25kg/m2 was 4.8 (95% CI =1.2-18.9) (P-value: 0.013).

Our results suggest that experiences of racism may increase BMI among AsA women. Further research, policy, and resources are needed to help address discrimination and its harmful effects on health among these women.

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