CJO - Abstract - Influence of acculturation among Tunisian migrants in France and their past/present exposure to the home country on diet and physical activity

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    Influence of acculturation among Tunisian migrants in France and their past/present exposure to the home country on diet and physical activity
    Caroline Méjean, Pierre Traissac, Sabrina Eymard-Duvernay, Francis Delpeuch and Bernard Maire (2009).
    Public Health Nutrition, Volume 12, Issue 06, June 2009 pp 832-841 http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=5580364

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Public Health Nutrition (2009), 12 : 832-841 Cambridge University Press
doi:10.1017/S1368980008003285 (About doi)
Published online by Cambridge University Press 23 Jul 2008
 
Cambridge Journals Online - CUP Full-Text Page
Public Health Nutrition (2009), 12:832-841 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © The Authors 2008
doi:10.1017/S1368980008003285

Research Paper

Influence of acculturation among Tunisian migrants in France and their past/present exposure to the home country on diet and physical activity

Caroline Méjeana1a2, Pierre Traissaca1, Sabrina Eymard-Duvernaya1, Francis Delpeucha1 and Bernard Mairea1 c1

a1 Nutrition Unit, UR106 (Nutrition, Alimentation, Sociétés), Institut de Recherche pour le Développment, BP 64501, F-34394 Montpellier, France
a2 Doctoral School 393 ‘Public Health: Epidemiology and Biomedical Information Sciences’, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
Article author query
méjean c PubMed  Google Scholar
traissac p PubMed  Google Scholar
eymard-duvernay s PubMed  Google Scholar
delpeuch f PubMed  Google Scholar
maire b PubMed  Google Scholar

Abstract

Objective To study how dietary patterns and physical activity vary with acculturation and with past and current exposure to socio-cultural norms of the home country among Tunisian migrants.

Design A retrospective cohort study was conducted using quota sampling (n 150) based on age and residence. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated FFQ. Physical activity level and dietary aspects were compared according to length of residence (acculturation), age at migration (past exposure) and social ties with the home country (current exposure).

Subjects and setting Tunisian migrant men residing in the South of France.

Results Migrants who had lived in France for more than 9 years had a higher percentage contribution of meat to energy intake (P = 0·04), a higher Na intake (P = 0·04), a lower percentage contribution of sugar and sweets (P = 0·04) and a lower percentage of carbohydrates (P = 0·03) than short-term migrants. Men who migrated before 21 years of age had a higher Na intake than ‘late’ migrants (P = 0·02). Men who had distant social ties with Tunisia had a lower physical activity level (P = 0·01) whereas men who had close ties had a higher percentage of fat (P = 0·01) and a higher ratio of MUFA to SFA (P = 0·02).

Conclusions Acculturation led to a convergence of some characteristics to those of the host population, while some results (meat and salt consumption) were at variance with other acculturation studies. Past and current exposure to the home country helped maintain some positive aspects of the diet. Nevertheless, present dietary changes in Tunisia could soon lessen these features.

(Received November 07 2007)

(Accepted May 19 2008)

KeywordsMigrants; Lifestyle; Length of residence; Age at migration

Correspondence:

c1 Corresponding author: Email maire@mpl.ird.fr

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