Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110102

Sarah E. Colby, MS, RD¹, Sharon Morrison, MSPH, PhD², and Lauren A. Haldeman, PhD¹. (1) Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, 336-256-0311, secolby@uncg.edu, (2) Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 437 HHP Building, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170

The purpose of this study was to utilize qualitative methods to identify the stages of dietary acculturation in newly arrived Mexican immigrant families. Observations, in-depth interviews and a face to face survey were conducted with a Mexican family living in the Mexican city of Mazatlan for a one-week period to assess how daily diet was organized and managed within and outside the household. These methods were also used to assess the same dietary patterns with four immigrant families from Mexico who were residing in Guilford County, North Carolina less than 4 years. These immigrant families were selected based on similar household characteristics as the homeland family. Decreases in fruit intake were the first and primary changes to occur among the immigrant families. This was followed by small decreases in vegetable intake. Snack and processed food consumption increased. Availability, food displacement and cost were identified as primary causes of dietary change. Children experienced dietary acculturation much sooner than adults due to exposure to American foods (hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, French fries) in school. Children were also the primary drivers of each family's diet acculturation process. Mexican immigrant families were unaware of health risks associated with the “American” diet. Findings suggest a need for nutrition education specifically targeted to children of newly arrived Mexican immigrant families. Messages need to be focused on increasing awareness of the risks of adopting the “American" diet and promoting the retention of the healthy traditional Mexican diet which emphasizes fresh fruits, vegetables and beans.

Learning Objectives:

2. Identify whole food changes that occur with the acculturation of the Latino diet.
5. Recognize primary causes of dietary change for newly arrived Latino immigrants.
8. Develop culturally appropriate nutrition intervention strategies for the newly arrived Latino immigrant population.

Keywords: Latino, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.