A Systematic Review of the Relationship between Acculturation and Diet among Latinos in the United States: Implications for Future Research

doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.05.009

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Volume 108, Issue 8, August 2008, Pages 1330-1344

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.05.009 Get rights and content

Abstract

Dietary intake is an important determinant of obesity and numerous chronic health conditions. A healthful diet is an essential component of chronic disease self-management. Researchers have indicated that the healthfulness of the Latino diet deteriorates during the acculturation process. However, given the many operationalizations of acculturation, conclusive evidence regarding this relationship is still lacking. This comprehensive and systematic literature review examines the relationship between acculturation and diet by examining national, quantitative, and qualitative studies involving Latinos living in the United States. Studies of diet included those that examined dietary intake using one of several validated measures (eg, food frequency questionnaire, 24-hour dietary recall, or dietary screener) and/or dietary behaviors (eg, away-from-home-eating and fat avoidance). Articles were identified through two independent searches yielding a final sample of 34 articles. Articles were abstracted by two independent reviewers and inter-rater reliability was assessed. Analyses examined the extent to which various measures of acculturation (ie, acculturation score, years in the United States, birthplace, generational status, and language use) were associated with macronutrient intake, micronutrient intake, and dietary behaviors. Several relationships were consistent irrespective of how acculturation was measured: no relationship with intake of dietary fat and percent energy from fat; the less vs more acculturated consumed more fruit, rice, beans, and less sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages. Additional observed relationships depended on the measure of acculturation used in the study. These findings suggest a differential influence of acculturation on diet, requiring greater specificity in our dietary interventions by acculturation status.

Section snippets

Data Retrieval Process

Using methods developed by Cooper (12), articles were identified for inclusion using three approaches: database literature searches, reviewing the references of articles selected for the review (also known as backward searching), and examining published reviews on the topic. Consistent with the multiple operationalization approach recommended for literature reviews (12), an initial search was conducted by the first author in Medline and PsycInfo using the following key terms for acculturation

Results

Results of the literature search are outlined in Figure 1. Two separate searches and backward searches from identified articles yielded 54 articles describing the acculturation–diet relationship. Five (10%) studies were excluded from the review process because they themselves were review articles (4, 5, 6, 10, 11). The other studies were excluded because they examined the outcomes of a poor diet (eg, obesity, diabetes, or hypertension) rather than on diet itself or they did not systematically

Discussion

This review sought to examine the relationship between acculturation and diet among Latinos living in the United States. Researchers are growing increasingly interested in understanding the influence of acculturation on health behaviors and health outcomes (11, 68). Some researchers are trying to disentangle which acculturation variable is most relevant to health (54); others argue that acculturation may not be the most appropriate variable to consider in understanding Latino health disparities

G. X. Ayala is an assistant professor, Division of Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, and B. Baquero is a doctoral student, Joint Doctoral Program in Behavioral Science, Center for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

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S. Klinger is a nutrition and culinary consultant, Hispanic Food Communications, Inc, Hinsdale, IL.

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ResearchReview ArticleA Systematic Review of the Relationship between Acculturation and Diet among Latinos in the United States: Implications for Future Research

Abstract

Section snippets

Data Retrieval Process

Results

Discussion

J. Nutr

J Am Diet Assoc

J Am Diet Assoc

Soc Sci Med

J Am Diet Assoc

J. Nutr

J Am Diet Assoc

J Am Diet Assoc

Prev Med

J Am Diet Assoc

Soc Sci Med

Prev Med

J Am Diet Assoc

J Am Diet Assoc

J Nutr

Clinics in geriatric medicine

Womens Health Issues

J Am Diet Assoc

Prev Med

Prev Med

Soc Sci Med

J Am Diet Assoc

J Am Diet Assoc

J Am Diet Assoc

Am J Prev Med

Conceptual approaches to acculturation

Acculturation rating scale for Mexican Americans-II: A revision of the original ARSMA scale

Hisp J Behav Sci

A new measurement of acculturation for Hispanics: The bidimensional acculturation scale for Hispanics (BAS)

Hisp J Behav Sci

Cultural influences on the dietary practices of Mexican Americans: A review of the literature

Hisp Health Care Int

Socioeconomic indicators related to cardiovascular disease risk factors in Hispanics

Am J Health Behav

Eating and exercise behaviors and attitudes of Southwestern Anglos and Hispanics

Psychol Health

Acculturation and Latino health in the United States: A review of the literature and its sociopolitical context

Annu Rev Public Health

Synthesizing Research: A guide for literature reviews

Hypertension and acculturation in elderly Mexican Americans: Results from 1982-84 Hispanic HANES

J Gerontol

Prenatal health behaviors and psychosocial risk factors in pregnant women of Mexican origin: the role of acculturation

Am J Public Health

Research
Review Article
A Systematic Review of the Relationship between Acculturation and Diet among Latinos in the United States: Implications for Future Research