title: The impact of modernisation on the diets of adults aged 20-40 years from Samoan church communities in Auckland.
abstract: The objective of this study was to describe the food and nutrient intakes of adults in three Samoan church communities located in Auckland, New Zealand. The study had a cross-sectional design and measured usual dietary intake in 437 participants, aged 20 years and over, using a self-completed, 89-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Median daily energy and nutrient intakes were calculated and compared by gender and age groups. Men obtained a significantly (p < 0.05) lower proportion of their energy from breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables and fats and oils than women. Compared to those aged 40+ years, those aged < 40 obtained a significantly (p < 0.01) lower proportion of their energy from meat, pulses and eggs, fruit and vegetables, and starchy staples. A significantly (p < 0.01) higher proportion of their energy intake came from takeaways, soft drinks, snacks and dairy products. Nutrient analysis revealed that those aged < 40 years obtained significantly (p < 0.001) more energy from fat and sugar, and less energy from protein (p < 0.001) than the older group. They also had significantly lower intakes, per 1000 kilocalories, of a wide selection of vitamins and minerals. A dietary transition has occurred for New Zealand Samoans, reflecting a shift from traditional to modern dietary patterns and a decline in the nutritional quality of the diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Auckland. colin_bell@unc.edu
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Swinburn
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amosa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scragg
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sharpe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002835:Christianity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018947:Samoa / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires