Dietary habits and health beliefsOf Chinese Canadians

Abstract

Purpose: The relationships among dietary behaviours, traditional health beliefs (THB), and demographic characteristics of Chinese Canadians living in Toronto were examined, as were their primary sources of nutrition information.Methods: Through the use of probability sampling, 106 adult subjects who originated fromChina, Hong Kong, or Taiwan were recruited fromfive Chinese community organizations. A telephone interview, employing a tested questionnaire, was conducted in Cantonese orMandarin. All data were analyzed with MS Excel and SPSS statistical software.Results: Dietary acculturation is gradual and individual. Participants reported regular intakes of fruits and vegetables and fat-reducing behaviours. Most used both Chinese and Western cooking methods. Practices based on traditional Chinese health beliefs (THB), such as balancing yin and yang foods to promote health, were prevalent. Participants were grouped as THB-strong, THB-moderate, or THB-weak, on the basis of their health belief scores. Various significant relationships among the variables were identified. Chinese media, friends, and family were the primary sources of nutrition information; dietitians were identified by only 12%.Conclusions: This is the first study to apply a THB grouping for Chinese Canadians. Results will provide an important basis for nutrition interventions to encourage immigrants to make healthy food choices, using both traditional and Western foods.