The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48633

L. Beth Dixon, PhD, MPH, Nutrition and Food Studies, New York University, 35 W. 4th Street, 10th Floor, New York City, NY 10012-1172, 212 998 5584, beth.dixon@nyu.edu

Changes in dietary patterns occur when groups of people immigrate to or become more acculturated in the U.S. Unfortunately, the adapted diets are often less healthful than the native diets, increasing the risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Previous analyses of NHANES III dietary data showed that regardless of primary language spoken (Spanish or English), Mexican American adults, who were born in Mexico, had diets more in accordance with U.S. dietary recommendations than Mexican American adults, who were born in the U.S. and whose primary language was English. Preliminary analyses of NHANES III dietary data from 3,146 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation Mexican American children, ages 2 to 16 years, also show that diets (measured by nutrient intakes, servings of Pyramid Food Groups, and Healthy Eating Index scores determined from 24-hour dietary recalls) of 1st generation children are more healthful (i.e., more in accordance with U.S. dietary recommendations) compared with diets of 2nd and 3rd generation Mexican American children, despite their lower socioeconomic status. These preliminary findings reveal subgroups of children (e.g., 1st generation Mexican American children) who need encouragement to maintain their healthful eating patterns and subgroups of children (e.g., 2nd and 3rd generation Mexican American children) who need assistance with eating more healthful diets. Nutrition education programs and policies developed for specific ethnic groups within the U.S. should also consider the generational status of their members.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize that dietary patterns of Mexican American children living in the U.S. may differ by the children's generational status.
• Identify nutrients and food groups in the diets of Mexican American children that are most likely to differ according to whether the children are 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation.

Keywords: Nutrition, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.