Language use affects food behaviours and food values among Mexican-origin adults in the USA.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have established that acculturation is associated with dietary intake among Mexican immigrants and their offspring, but few studies have investigated whether food purchasing, food preparation or food-related values act as mechanisms of dietary acculturation. We examine the relationship between language use and a wide range of food behaviours and food-related values among Mexican-American adults.


METHODS
Nationally representative probability sample of the US population.


METHODS
2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.


METHODS
Mexican-American adults (n 2792) at least 20 years of age.


RESULTS
Mexican Americans who speak only or mostly English consume more energy from fast-food and sit-down restaurants and report increased consumption of non-homemade meals, fast-food and pizza meals, frozen meals and ready-to-eat meals relative to Spanish speakers. English speakers prepare one fewer homemade dinner per week and spend less time on meal preparation. English speakers are more likely than Spanish speakers to cite convenience as an important reason why they prefer fast food over cooking at home. There is no relationship between language use and the perceived importance of the nutritional quality, price or taste of fast food.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence that the well-documented relationship between acculturation and diet among Mexican Americans may be just one indicator of a broader pattern characterized by decreased home meal preparation and increased reliance on convenience foods.
1Division of Health Promotion Sciences,Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health,University of Arizona,PO Box 245209,Tucson,AZ 85724,USA.
Brent A
BA
Langellier
2Department of Biostatistics,Fielding School of Public Health,University of California,Los Angeles,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
Ron
R
Brookmeyer
3Department of Community Health Sciences,Fielding School of Public Health,University of California,Los Angeles,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
May C
MC
Wang
3Department of Community Health Sciences,Fielding School of Public Health,University of California,Los Angeles,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
Deborah
D
Glik
D000069:Acculturation; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003296:Cooking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D004034:Diet Surveys; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000009:adverse effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019303:Multilingualism; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
Acculturation; Food; Health disparities; Latino health