Within-country migration and obesity dynamics: analysis of 94,783 women from the Peruvian demographic and health surveys.
Najera, Hector;
Nandy, Shailen;
Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M;
Miranda, J Jaime;
(2019)
Within-country migration and obesity dynamics: analysis of 94,783 women from the Peruvian demographic and health surveys.
BMC public health, 19 (1).
263-.
ISSN 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6586-7
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BACKGROUND: Rural-to-urban migration is associated with increased obesity, yet it remains unknown whether this association exist, and to what extent, with other types of internal migration. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the Peruvian Demographic and Health Surveys (2005 to 2012) on data collected from women aged 15-49 years. Participants were classified as rural stayers, urban stayers, rural-to-urban migrants, intra-rural migrants, intra-urban migrants, and urban-to-rural migrants. Marginal effects from a logit regression model were used to assess the probabilities of being and becoming obese given both the length of time in current place of residence and women's migration status. RESULTS: Analysis of cross-sectional survey data generated between 2005 and 2012. Data from 94,783 participants was analyzed. Intra-urban migrants and rural-to-urban migrants had the highest rates of obesity (21% in 2012). A steady increase in obesity is observed across all migration statuses. Relative to rural non-migrants, participants exposed to urban environments had greater odds, two- to three-fold higher, of obesity. The intra-rural migrant group also shows higher odds relative to rural stayers (42% higher obesity odds). The length of exposure to urban settings shows a steady effect over time. CONCLUSION: Both exposure to urban environments and migration are associated with higher odds of obesity. Expanding the characterization of within-country migration dynamics provides a better insight into the relationship between duration of exposure to urban settings and obesity.