Unpacking dietary acculturation among new Americans: results from formative research with African refugees.
Epidemiological studies focusing on Latino immigrant health have found links between acculturation (time and language competency), weight gain, and disease risk. Since time and language competency are not mechanisms by which diets and activities change, associations between acculturation and weight change offer little to public health professionals who aim to develop nutrition and health interventions. We present a conceptual model and use a mixed-methods biocultural approach to address the fine-grained details of diet and activity choice for new arrivals to the USA. The results of our anthropological work with Liberian and Somali Bantu refugees indicate that, in addition to standard surveys (individual-level characteristics, socioeconomic status, employment, and acculturation), epidemiological research would benefit from the data generated from ethnography and more nuanced behavioral studies. A focus on the lived experiences of new Americans and the explicit examination of institutional support, peer support, and interactions between children and caretakers might offer points of intervention for immigrant health which is a growing public health concern.
Patil
Crystal L
CL
Department of Anthropology - BSB 2102 (MC 027), University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. cpatil@uic.edu
Hadley
Craig
C
Nahayo
Perpetue Djona
PD
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007988:Liberia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009043:Motor Activity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult