What can diet of migrants from the French West Indies indicate about the nutrition transition?

Abstract

Abstract Background French West Indies, like the other Caribbean territories, are currently undergoing a nutrition transition. Little is known about how migration and subsequent changes in food habits could influence adherence to specific dietary patterns. Our study aimed to assess dietary intake among French West Indians who live in and/or were born in the French West Indies, compared with individuals born and living in mainland France. Methods 1,094 participants from the NutriNet-Santé e-cohort, prospectively included between 2009-2019, were categorized into 4 subgroups: born and living in the French West Indies (West Indies/West Indies WW; n = 172); born in the West Indies and living in France Mainland (West Indies/mainland, WM n = 317); born in France Mainland and living in the French West Indies (mainland/West Indies, MW n = 288) and those born and living in Mainland France (mainland/mainland, MM n = 317). We compared the four subgroups on their nutritional quality of the diet using data provided by 24h records, and sociodemographic, lifestyle and anthropometric characteristics. The association between dietary patterns and migration status was estimated by polytomous logistic regression models. Results The WM group had consumptions reflecting an intermediate nutritional quality between the WW and the MM groups, with higher consumption of plant-based foods. The WM and WW groups were more likely to adhere both to a traditional dietary pattern from the West Indies (tubers grown in the West Indies, legumes, fish and offal) and, to a lesser extent, a convenient dietary pattern (high in ultra-processed foods), compared to MM, confirming the ongoing nutrition transition. Conclusions Migrants from French West Indies may have changed their traditional dietary habits, suggesting an influence of the environment. Migrants presented both potentially protective and detrimental dietary patterns compared to their peers born in mainland France due to the maintenance of cultural habits. Key messages • Migration may influence food habits for migrants between the French West Indies and Mainland France. • The nutrition transition is on going in the French West Indies, representing a public health issue.