There’s an alarming number of fatter male children of immigrants compared to natives. It notes the factors that of soft drinks, fast food, and junk food that contribute to the rise in bulk.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/09/04/ST2009090400697.html
What the study fails to note is that immigrant kids are often left unsupervised at home to eat whatever they can find, and junk food is easily edible, while their parents are working till ten at night. Also being transitioned from one country to another, creates a prison environment in the home where they have nowhere to go after school.
To say that “extra weight is a sign of prosperity” is irresponsible and sheer ignorance. No one ever wants to be an overweight kid who are often the butt of jokes, and teasing. This is true for every culture.