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Immigrating to the US: What Brazilian, Latin American and Haitian Women Have to Say About Changes to Their Lifestyle That May be Associated with Obesity

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Abstract

Our goal was to explore the perceived determinants of obesity in Brazilian, Latin American and Haitian women. This is part of an ongoing community-based participatory intervention. Focus groups by immigrant group were conducted and themes extracted. Women expressed differences in beliefs, attitudes, and barriers regarding diet and physical activity in the US versus their home country. Participants thought food in the US is “less natural,” there is less time for preparation, and there is more variety. The weather is a barrier to physical activity in the US and work is more physically demanding. Job-related efforts were not considered physical activity. They reported higher levels of stress, less control of their time and less social support in the US. Providing immigrants with appropriate support and education early in the acculturation process has the potential to help prevent obesity.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank these members of the LiveWell Steering Committee (Rebecca Boulos, Franklin Dalambert, Heloisia Galvao, Warren Goldstein-Gelb, Emily Kuross, Maria Landaverde, Christina Luongo-Kamins, Melissa McWhinney, Joyce Guilhermino de Pádua, Helen Sinzker, Sarah Sliwa, Kerline Tofuri, and Ismael Vasquez) for their careful and thoughtful assistance with the data collection and interpretation. In addition, we thank the women who participated in this study. Funding for this research was provided by grant 5R01HD057841 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD. Postdoctoral research funds for Alison Tovar were provided by a supplement from this grant. We would also like to acknowledge support from the Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center (DK046200).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Alison Tovar, Aviva Must, Nesly Metayer & Christina D. Economos

  2. Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA

    David M. Gute

  3. Immigrant Service Providers Group/Health, c/o Somerville Community Corporation, 337 Somerville Avenue, 2nd Floor, Somerville, MA, 02143, USA

    Alex Pirie

  4. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Aviva Must & Raymond R. Hyatt

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  1. Alison Tovar
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  7. Christina D. Economos
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Correspondence to Alison Tovar.

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Tovar, A., Must, A., Metayer, N. et al. Immigrating to the US: What Brazilian, Latin American and Haitian Women Have to Say About Changes to Their Lifestyle That May be Associated with Obesity. J Immigrant Minority Health 15, 357–364 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9665-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9665-8

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