06.27.07
UCLA professor: Asian Americans misunderstand health risks
You’re Asian American — that means you eat right, stay trim and never have to worry about illness and disease, right?
Not so fast, says professor Marjorie Kagawa-Singer of the UCLA School of Public Health and Asian American Studies Center.
“The myth of the healthy, wealthy and wise Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) is not true,” according to Kagawa-Singer, who points to high rates of cancer, hepatitis B and other major afflictions in the community.
As the article goes on to explain, the reasons behind these health risks are many: genetics, lack of awareness, insufficient insurance, and even the misperceptions of health care providers.
Here are a couple of facts from the article that may surprise you:
- Diabetes can occur at a lower body-mass index in AAPIs than in other groups.
- Health benefits of the traditional Asian diet, with 10-15 percent fat compared with about 40 percent in the dominant American diet, diminish over time.
Kagawa-Singer will discuss AAPI health issues like these at a conference in Phoenix, Ariz., this Thursday. Details below.
Community conference on Asian and Pacific Islander health disparities
Thursday, June 28
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Black Canyon Conference Center
9440 N. 25th Ave., Phoenix, Ariz.
Admission: $30, $15 for students
For details and registration, call (602) 265-4598.