Factors influencing underweight and overweight among male and female adolescents from multicultural families

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing underweight and overweight based on BMI criteria for analyzing the health status of male and female adolescents from multicultural families. Methods: Using the raw data of the 9th (2013) Korean Youth Health Risk Behavior Online Survey, this study analyzed 708 male and female adolescents from multicultural families including 65 whose father only was born in a foreign country, 584 whose mother only was born in a foreign country and 59 whose parents were not born in Korea. Results: The mean BMI of the male and female adolescents from multicultural families was 20.43.19 and 20.42.18, respectively. Male students' underweight was more frequent in middle school students than in high school ones (OR = 2.31, CI = 1.13 - 4.72, p = 021), and in those living together with mother than in those not (OR = 3.05, CI = 1.16 - 8.05, p = .024). Female students' underweight was more frequent in middle school students than in high school ones (OR = 1.91, CI = 1.05 - 3.47, p = .033), and in those whose economic status was high or middle than in those low (OR = 2.78, CI = 1.44 5.38, p = .002). Conclusion: In order to guide multicultural family adolescents to be concerned about their underweight and get out of it, it is necessary to provide them and their mothers with health education for changing their nutritional behavior and to support them economically.