title: Lifestyle and food habits changes after migration: a focus on immigrant women in Modena (Italy).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to explore post-migration lifestyle and weight changes in a sample of migrant women recruited in Modena, Italy. Taking into account the importance of the perceived personal susceptibility in improving prevention and treatment seeking behaviors, we further investigated women's self-recognition of overweight/obesity. We also examined the changes in self-perceived quality of life after the arrival in Modena.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 97 female migrants visiting a family counseling in Modena. Socio-demographic information, post-migration changes in lifestyle, dietary habits and self-perceived quality of life were obtained by administering an anonymous questionnaire, created ad hoc with expert consultation and previously tested in a pilot study. Thereafter blood pressure, height and weight were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half of the sample met criteria for overweight/obesity and 58% reported a weight increase after the arrival in Italy. The increased risk of weight gain after migration was significantly associated with women age, lower education level, African ethnicity and post-migration increased consumption of cheese and snacks/sweets. After applying a conditional multiple logistic regression, ethnicity, age and increased post-migration cheese consumption remained the main predictors of weight gain. More than half of subjects with BMI ≥ 25 Kg/m² were not aware of their own overweight or obesity. Such weight underestimation was more common in African migrants than in other ethnicities. Findings about the perceived quality of life showed an overall improved economic situation, although more than half of women revealed deterioration in their social relationships after migration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are important to identify the gaps in the current migrant populations' health promotion in Modena and suggest that strategies to support female migrants to reinforce good dietary patterns may be the key in preventing unhealthy weight gain. Indeed, understanding immigrant women's culture, beliefs and traditions of their country of origin, as well as food acculturation, is essential to improve the efficiency of these interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Casali
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borsari
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borella
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bargellini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acculturation; Eating habits; Health promotion; Migration; Overweight/obesity