The Association between Acculturation and Dietary Patterns of South Asian Immigrants

Iris A Lesser,Scott A Lear,Danijela Gasevic,C Mary Schooling

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088495

Iris A Lesser, Scott A Lear + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088495

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Journal: PLoS ONE	Publication Date: Feb 18, 2014
Citations: 152	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Simon Fraser University, Providence Health Care

Abstract

Dietary acculturation, specifically the adoption of western dietary habits, may result in adverse health effects such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the role of acculturation in dietary patterns as well as awareness and knowledge of healthy nutrition among South Asian immigrants. This is an especially important population to target as South Asians have higher prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which may be magnified with immigration. The current investigation is a sub-study of the Multi-Cultural Community Health Assessment Trial (M-CHAT). There were 207 participants of South Asian origin included in the initial study, 129 were born outside of Canada and had immigrated after the age of 18. The length of residence in Canada was used as a marker for acculturation. A questionnaire addressing perceived changes in dietary patterns, food preparation, and nutrition knowledge and awareness since immigration was used to assess dietary practices. The association between length of residence and variables related to perceived changes in dietary patterns was explored with Spearman correlation and significant associations were subsequently analyzed with ordinal logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, education and body mass index. South Asian immigrants in Canada reported a variety of positive dietary practices, including an increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and an improvement in food preparation (including an increase in grilling and a decrease in deep frying when cooking). However, there was a reported increase in the consumption of convenience foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, red meat and in dining out. South Asian immigrants in Canada reported a variety of positive dietary practices including an improvement in food preparation. Future health promotion strategies should encourage cultural sensitivity in efforts to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage, convenience foods and to encourage eating at home rather than dining out.

Highlights

South Asians are one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in Canada [1] and the US [2]
A lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors has been reported among immigrants in their new country when compared to individuals in their country of origin [4,5,6]
Over 60% of South Asian immigrants found it easier to purchase low fat foods and almost 50% of immigrants found it easier to purchase fruits and vegetables in Canada compared to their homeland

Summary

Introduction

South Asians (populations originating from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) are one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in Canada [1] and the US [2]. A lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors has been reported among immigrants in their new country when compared to individuals in their country of origin [4,5,6]. This is due to immigration policies which require good health to qualify for immigration; it has been shown that this ‘‘healthy immigrant effect’’ deteriorates with length of residence in a new country [7,8,9] with immigrant health risk eventually surpassing that of native born populations [10]

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