Diet and Acculturation Among Hispanic/Latino Older Adults in the United States: A Review of Literature and Recommendations

Abstract

Among U.S. and foreign-born Hispanic/Latino older adults living in the United States, associations of dietary acculturation and health outcomes have yielded no consistent findings. The purpose of this review was to present current knowledge and research disparities on acculturation, dietary intake, and health outcomes among the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Fifteen peer-reviewed studies that measured dietary acculturation among Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Dominican older adults living in the United States were identified and examined. This literature review divulged contradictory associations between dietary acculturation and dietary intake, along with nutritional and general health outcomes. Conclusive evidence has yet to be attained due to use of cross-sectional study designs and numerous acculturation measures as well as unique cultural and dietary patterns across diverse Hispanic/Latino populations. Further research is needed to ascertain dietary acculturation among U.S. and foreign-born Hispanic/Latino older adults in the United States and should strive to develop instruments that consider the social, economic, and political environments that influence the dietary acculturation process. Furthermore, longitudinal study designs and qualitative methodologies are warranted.

The impact of migration on body weight: a review

“…Immigrants are more likely to work longer hours and have two or more jobs to support themselves 65 . Members of younger and bigger households are also more likely to choose convenience food, while older households are more likely to maintain traditional meals 66 . Immigrants report that acculturation is often associated with an increase in stress 69,70,71 and stress and stress-related disorders may play an important role in the development of obesity 67,68 .…”

Effects of Latino children on their mothers' dietary intake and dietary behaviors: The role of children's acculturation and the mother-child acculturation gap

“…For example, Latino immigrant children usually adopt the new dominant culture faster than their parents because children have greater exposure to mainstream media, more readily learn and adopt English in school, and are more susceptible to external social influences than their parents (Hwang, 2006). Children’s adoption of “American” foods and/or shedding of their traditional food preferences (e.g., dietary acculturation ) may also occur more readily than among parents because of children’s exposure to these foods at school, through peers, and from the media (Arandia, et al, 2012; Dondero, et al, 2016; Satia-Abouta, et al, 2002). Because family members may affect each other’s acculturation processes (Basáñez, et al, 2014; Chun, 2006; Nauck, 2001), it follows that children’s acculturation may influence their parents’ dietary intake/behaviors by acting as cultural food brokers, introducing their parents to new foods and ways of consuming foods.…”

Immigrant status and cardiovascular risk over time: results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

“…Poorer diet and a higher prevalence of obesity have been consistently associated with being US-born or with longer length of US residence among the foreign born. 7,13 Longer US residence has been related to higher smoking prevalence among Asian and Hispanic immigrant women while results among men are less consistent. 14,15 The foreign-born are less likely to meet overall physical activity recommendations than the US-born, but also to have less sedentary behavior.…”

“…4,10,21,24 Finally, we examined whether these associations varied by baseline age. 13,25,26 As older immigrants may be less likely to assimilate to unhealthy behavior patterns in the US, 13 we hypothesized that cardiovascular risk among younger immigrants would converge to that of the US-born more quickly than among older participants.…”