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New study gets the skinny on multicultural fat risks
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Dr. Scott Lear, Kinesiology, 604.682.2344 ext. 62778, 604.439.7599; salear@sfu.ca
Dr. Scott Lear, Kinesiology, 604.682.2344 ext. 62778, 604.439.7599; salear@sfu.ca
July 30, 2004
Health researchers know that carrying extra weight increases an individual's risk of diabetes and heart disease, but does the definition of obesity cross cultural divides? That's the focus of a three-year pioneering multicultural health study by Dr. Scott Lear of SFU Kinesiology and fellow researchers at St. Paul's Hospital.
“People of aboriginal, Chinese and south Asian origin have historically been perceived as being thin and therefore free of heart disease,” observes Lear. “However, the medical community identifies people as being overweight or obese based on studies of Caucasian or European populations, and this may actually underestimate the risk for non-Caucasian populations.
“Recent reports suggest that non-Europeans may have higher body fat and risk factors for heart disease at a smaller body size than Europeans. Applying current obesity targets to these populations may result in delayed identification and management for those at risk. We need to learn how excess body fat is accumulated and distributed in different ethnic groups in order to determine the need for population-specific obesity targets.”
Lear plans to study 200 30-to-65-year-olds from Lower Mainland aboriginal, Chinese, European and south Asian communities. Participants must be free of heart disease or related medications; they will be assessed using state-of the-art procedures to determine total body fat, body fat in the abdominal region and lifestyle risks. They will also receive a scan of the carotid arteries and a blood test for risk factors.
The study is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes. Lear invites men and women who are interested in participating in the program to contact 604.682.2344 ext. 62778, or salear@sfu.ca
-30-
Website:
Canadian Institute of Health Research
Looking for an SFU expert after business hours? Visit
SFU researchers
“People of aboriginal, Chinese and south Asian origin have historically been perceived as being thin and therefore free of heart disease,” observes Lear. “However, the medical community identifies people as being overweight or obese based on studies of Caucasian or European populations, and this may actually underestimate the risk for non-Caucasian populations.
“Recent reports suggest that non-Europeans may have higher body fat and risk factors for heart disease at a smaller body size than Europeans. Applying current obesity targets to these populations may result in delayed identification and management for those at risk. We need to learn how excess body fat is accumulated and distributed in different ethnic groups in order to determine the need for population-specific obesity targets.”
Lear plans to study 200 30-to-65-year-olds from Lower Mainland aboriginal, Chinese, European and south Asian communities. Participants must be free of heart disease or related medications; they will be assessed using state-of the-art procedures to determine total body fat, body fat in the abdominal region and lifestyle risks. They will also receive a scan of the carotid arteries and a blood test for risk factors.
The study is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes. Lear invites men and women who are interested in participating in the program to contact 604.682.2344 ext. 62778, or salear@sfu.ca
-30-
Website:
Canadian Institute of Health Research
Looking for an SFU expert after business hours? Visit
SFU researchers