The Health Toll of Immigration

[momopi]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/healt ... d=all&_r=0

BROWNSVILLE, Tex. — Becoming an American can be bad for your health.

A growing body of mortality research on immigrants has shown that the longer they live in this country, the worse their rates of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. And while their American-born children may have more money, they tend to live shorter lives than the parents.

The pattern goes against any notion that moving to America improves every aspect of life. It also demonstrates that at least in terms of health, worries about assimilation for the country’s 11 million illegal immigrants are mistaken. In fact, it is happening all too quickly.

[Jester]

My Dad heard something similar several decades ago from an anthroplogist who studied Armenians. Very healthy and long-lived in the Old Country, but a tendency to diabetes in the Disapora.

We assumed that it was some quasi-mystical effect of leaving the Homeland. Maybe it was just over-refined and over-preserved American foods?