Looking for a Taste of Home: A Qualitative Study of the Health Implications of the Diets of Australian - Based Southeast Asian Students

Abstract

Purpose:To investigate potential dietary changes among Southeast Asian international students living in self-catered accommodation while studying abroad and to consider implications for their health.Design:Participants were interviewed about their food preferences and behaviours in their home countries and during their undergraduate studies at the Australian National University.Setting:A university in AustraliaParticipants:Study participants were full-time undergraduate students over 18 years of age from Southeast Asian countries studying at the Australian National University for at least one year, and living at self-catered accommodation.Methods:Thirty-one, in-depth, face-to-face qualitative interviews concerning usual diets were collected over a three month period in 2013. Interviews were coded and analysed with the aid of a computer program Atlas.ti.Results:The macro-nutrient content of Southeast Asian international students’ diets did not change a great deal when they moved to Australia. Most students replaced some preferred foods on occasions because they either could not afford them, they were not available or they lacked time to prepare them. These dietary changes were not necessarily reflected in changes to students’ weights and most students considered that they were as healthy as when they lived at home.Conclusion:As students’ adapt to a new food environment they reflexively manage potential health risks. Strong student networks and an accessible and healthy food environment would support students to make healthy dietary choices although additional information about healthy diets could facilitate this further.

Food environment interactions after migration: a scoping review on low- and middle-income country immigrants in high-income countries

“…To access traditional foods, personal vehicles or public transport needed. (85) To investigate potential dietary changes among Southeast Asian international students living in self-catered accommodation and to consider implications for their health. (38) To examine complex influences on immigrant Latina mothers' feeding practices and their children's eating and physical activity habits (87) To examine how aspects of a specific locality, history and set of practices interact to produce an obesogenic environment Not specified.…”

“…Food prices were often high in relation to the income of immigrants (74) , which was a hindrance for buying food (42,64,86) . This was particularly relevant for nutritious food like fruits, vegetables fish and meat that were more expensive (28,29,52,61,65,(84)(85)(86)90) . Culturally specific foods were also considered more expensive (28,40,53,57,58,63,(73)(74)(75)(76)78,80,81,84,85) , particularly in places where there was a low presence of these foods (84) .…”

“…This was particularly relevant for nutritious food like fruits, vegetables fish and meat that were more expensive (28,29,52,61,65,(84)(85)(86)90) . Culturally specific foods were also considered more expensive (28,40,53,57,58,63,(73)(74)(75)(76)78,80,81,84,85) , particularly in places where there was a low presence of these foods (84) . Even though halal stores were considered trustworthy, they were too expensive to rely on for all food purchases (78) .…”

Exploring International Students' Food Choices Using Photovoice Techniques

“…Research with immigrant populations documents a deterioration in immigrants' health status when they move to a new country and dietary changes play a role in this deterioration (Sanou et al, 2014). Student studies have shown similar trends to immigrant studies and link studying overseas with health risks such as weight gain (Leu & Banwell, 2016;Almohanna et al, 2015). The acculturation process that students experience may mean a transition in diet and the adoption of Western diet patterns (Sukalakamala & Brittin, 2006) which exposes students to health risks.…”

“That is an Awful Lot of Fruit and Veg to Be Eating”. Focus Group Study on Motivations for the Consumption of 5 a Day in British Young Men

“…Availability and cost are often designated as environmental factors [9], however, measurement of peoples’ perceptions make them contenders for perceived behavioral control. Studies have found that cost, availability and time often limit diets to unhealthier choices [13,28]. Attitudes (i.e., positive and negative evaluative beliefs) towards a behavior, and subjective norms (i.e., perceptions about what others believe a person should do) are weaker predictors of behavior [26].…”