Acculturation, Dietary Pattern and Health Indicators among Filipino-American Immigrants

                                                                             ACCULTURATION, DIETARY PATTERN AND HEALTH INDICATORS

AMONG FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS IN NEW JERSEY

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:  Acculturation, the subsequent changes that occur in one culture after continuous first hand contact with another culture, has impacted the dietary habits and health risks of Filipino Americans.  Filipino American immigrants have one of the highest rates of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes despite having a lower prevalence of overweight and obesity based on the U.S. standard guidelines.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended different BMI and waist circumference cut-off points for the Asian population.

This study describes the acculturation, dietary habits and anthropometric measurements among first generation Filipino American immigrants and investigates the relationship among these variables.

METHODS:  Using a non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design, the relationship between acculturation, dietary habits and health status was investigated among first generation Filipino American immigrants in New Jersey (n=210). Acculturation was measured using the Short Acculturation Scale for Filipino Americans (ASASFA). Dietary pattern was measured using the Dietary Acculturation Questionnaire for Filipino Americans (DAQFA) and the Block’s Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire (BFFQ).  Health indicators included anthropometric measurement: BMI, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio (WHR).  U.S. standard and WHO Asian guidelines were used to determine healthy cut-off points.

RESULTS:  Descriptive statistics revealed that using the American guidelines, 36.6% women and 61.9% men were overweight or obese, 23.9% women and 19.7% men had a higher than normal waist circumference and 60.4% women and 67.1% men had a higher than normal WHR.  However, when Asian guidelines were used, 67.9% women and 86.9% men were overweight or obese, 50.7% women and 50% men had a higher than normal waist circumference.

            Western dietary intake was significantly correlated with caloric intake (r (208) = .158 p < .01), percent fat intake (r (208) = .167, p < .05), BMI (r (208) = .207, p < .01) and waist circumference (r (208) = .136 = p < .05).  There was significant correlation between ASASFA, Filipino dietary acculturation and anthropometric measurements.

            Caloric intake had a positive significant correlation with BMI (r (208) = .224, p < .01) and waist circumference (r (208) = .186, p < .01).  Fat intake had a significant positive correlation with BMI (r (208) = .143, p < .05).  No correlations were found with carbohydrate intake and anthropometric measurements.

CONCLUSION:  The results showed that Filipino American immigrants have increased risks in diet-related chronic diseases including increased BMI, waist, WHR and increased fat intake.  The increased health risks based on the anthropometric measurements are even more emphasized when using the WHO Asian guidelines.  The results of this study provide health care providers with information on the importance of the appropriate use of anthropometric measurement guidelines in screening for health risks.  The use of the WHO Asian guidelines has high clinical significance in this population.  In addition, there is emphasis on the importance of dietary assessment and nutritional counselling in this population.