ABSTRACT
Asians have been the fastest-growing population during the past decade in the United States. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of Asians living in the US grew 46 percent from 11.9 to 17.3 million. Research shows that social relationships protect individuals' health by promoting health-enhancing behaviors. Immigrants tend to lose their health advantages within a decade of living in the United States. The healthy immigrant effect is evidenced by the fact that immigrants' overweight and obesity rates are significantly lower than that of the native-born. Social support is the "verbal and nonverbal communication between recipients and providers that reduces uncertainty about the situation, the self, the other or the relationship, and functions to enhance a perception of personal control in one's life experience". Social support can come from many sources, including family members, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, neighbors, online support groups, and health care professionals.
