Obesity, acculturation, and perceived stress in Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) immigrants in the United States

Abstract

Aim: Research studies conducted to examine the relationship between the predictors and obesity in minority groups in the US, that relationship was unknown in Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) immigrant populations. Method: Data were collected from 109 participants using CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. Descriptive analysis, logistic regression and Spearman’s correlation were used. Results/Conclusion: The result showed no statistical association between obesity and the predictors of age, gender, SES, physical activity, acculturation, and perceived stress. This study, however, showed a significant association between daily vegetable, fruit, and hamburger,cheeseburger or meat loaf consumption and obesity, and weekly vegetable consumption,monthly hamburger,cheeseburger or meat loaf consumption and moderate/morbid obesity. Targeted community-based intervention and education programs should be given to increase awareness about these predictors.