For the past five years, the Immigration and Health Initiative (IAHI) at Hunter College has been developing a broad research agenda on immigrants’ eating patterns and obesity-related conditions in the US. We are summarizing below two of our current research projects on these topics.
The Role of Nostalgic Foods among Latinas' Eating Habits
The rising rates of obesity and related conditions (e.g., diabetes and cardiovascular disease) among minorities and immigrant populations in the US, has led us to increasingly focus on immigrants’ eating patterns in the US vis-à-vis their countries of origin. As a result of this line of work, we have coined the term nostalgic foods to refer to the traditional food items and recipes consumed by specific groups of immigrants and their families in the US. Our research with low-income Latino immigrants in New York City suggests that while some dietary staples of immigrants may be protective against obesity and chronic disease, some others may be harmful, including an excess of deep-fried foods rich in hydrogenated oils (or transfat) that leads to high cholesterol rates and heart disease. Funding for this project has been granted by two PSC-CUNY research grants (2007-08, and 2009-10).
Exploring Pathways to Immigrant Obesity: A Review for Research, Practice and Policy Recommendations.
Project Aims
Examine the myths regarding immigrants' dietary patterns.
Discuss the findings on obesity and weight loss among different immigrant groups in the US (e.g., use of alternative healing methods, preferred foods).
Conduct ongoing updates on the literature on immigrants' changing dietary patterns.
Provide policy recommendations.
