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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
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Published on: January 19, 2024
Anemia, Weight Status, and Fatigue Among Farmworkers in California: A Cross-Sectional Study
Leslie V Olivares1, Reina Engle-Stone, Charles D Arnold
1From the Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California (Ms Olivares, Dr Engle-Stone, Mr Arnold); Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California (Dr Engle-Stone); Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, Davis, California (Dr Langer); and Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California (Dr Schenker).
Objective:
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and overweight/obesity and assess the relationships between hematocrit (Hct) and body mass index (BMI), and between fatigue and Hct, among a sample of farmworkers in California.
Methods:
We estimated the prevalence of anemia (using Hct), overweight/obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 ), and self-reported fatigue in 587 farmworkers. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between Hct and BMI, and between fatigue and Hct.
Results:
Anemia prevalence was 3.1%, overweight/obesity prevalence was 80.7%, and 78% of workers reported fatigue at work. There was no association between Hct and BMI or between Hct and reported fatigue. Women were more likely than men to have lower Hct and higher BMI.
Conclusions:
A majority of farmworkers in this sample were overweight/obese, but anemia was uncommon. Anemia among more vulnerable subgroups of farmworkers should be explored.
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