title: Level of acculturation, food intake, dietary changes, and health status of first-generation Filipino Americans in Southern California.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This exploratory descriptive study investigates the acculturation level, food intake, dietary changes and practices, health status perceptions, and diet-related health indicators-body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, and waist-to-hip ratio-of first-generation Filipino Americans (FAs) in Southern California.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy FA adults-20 women and 10 men-were interviewed. Acculturation level was obtained using A Short Acculturation Scale for Filipino Americans. A 24-h dietary recall elicited their food intake. Survey questions revealed dietary changes and practices, health status perceptions, and sociodemographic characteristics. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FAs consider themselves more Filipino than American, but their acculturation level reflects transitioning into biculturalism. FAs relinquish, maintain, and adapt elements of both Philippine and U.S. cultures in food intake, dietary changes, and practices. Although FAs perceive their health status as very good to excellent, many exceed the cut-off points for BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study underscores the importance of nurse practitioners and other healthcare givers conducting cultural dietary assessment as a basis for culturally appropriate dietary counseling. The inclusion of waist measurement to regularly monitor abdominal obesity-a predictor of cardiovascular disease and diabetes-is highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Health Disparities, School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California.
authors.forename: Felicitas A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Dela Cruz
authors.forename: Brigette T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heinlein
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002140:California; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: Filipino Americans; anthropometric measurements; dietary acculturation; dietary intake and practices; glycemic index; glycemic load