title: Association of the duration of residence with obesity-related eating habits and dietary patterns among Latin-American immigrants in Spain.
abstract: The dietary patterns of immigrants usually change with the duration of residence and progressively resemble those of the host country. However, very few studies have investigated individuals migrating to countries with a high-quality diet, such as the Mediterranean diet (MD), and none has yet focused on Latin-American immigrants. The present study examined the association of the duration of residence with obesity-related eating habits and dietary patterns among Latin-American immigrants residing in Spain. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008-10 in a representative sample of the adult population residing in Spain. Adherence to the MD was defined as a MD Adherence Screener score ≥ 9. Analyses were conducted by including 419 individuals aged 18-64 years born in Latin-American countries. Compared with immigrants residing in Spain for < 5 years, those residing for ≥ 10 years accounted for a lower percentage of individuals who habitually ate at fast-food restaurants and never trimmed visible fat from meat. Moreover, these immigrants were found to have a lower intake of sugary beverages and a higher intake of Na, saturated fat, fibre, olive oil, vegetables and fish and to more frequently strictly adhere to the MD. A longer duration of residence in Spain was found to be associated with both healthy and unhealthy changes in some eating habits and dietary patterns among Latin-American immigrants. Some of the healthy changes observed contrasted the 'Westernisation' of the diet reported in studies conducted in other Western countries. The results of the present study support the role of the food environment of the host country in the modification of the dietary patterns of immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Marín-Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Artalejo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guallar-Castillón
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: Juan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Fisac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D066273:Diet, Western / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Dietary patterns; Duration of residence; Eating habits; Immigrants