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Health Conditions and Dietary Intake Among Brazilian Immigrants in the United States of America

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Abstract

Immigration can improve economic status and access to education compared to the country of origin, but it challenges access to health and preventive care. Assess Brazilian immigrants' overall health conditions and dietary intake in New Jersey (US). This pilot study assessed health conditions and dietary intake. Brazilians immigrants were interviewed through their communities. Trained dietitians interviewed them using a questionnaire and three days of 24H recall. Dietary intake was analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research software. A sample of 118 individuals completed the protocol, majority female and overweight/obese, living in the US for 11.3 years with 21.1% declaring having Noncommunicable Diseases. The average number of daily meals was 2.20 ± 1.04. Energy intake does not correlate with time in the US. Obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are the most prevalent Noncommunicable Diseases, demanding interventions that include managing saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake.

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Acknowledgements

To FAPDF for the post-doctoral scholarships. To the group of researchers from the Center for Cancer Prevention and Control at Hackensack Meridian Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition Department, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, Brazil

    R. B. A. Botelho & V. C. Ginani

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Rochester University, Rochester, NY, USA

    A. P. Cupertino

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  1. R. B. A. Botelho
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Botelho, R.B.A., Ginani, V.C. & Cupertino, A.P. Health Conditions and Dietary Intake Among Brazilian Immigrants in the United States of America. J Immigrant Minority Health 23, 1259–1266 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-021-01139-1

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