Objective
To explore the social and cultural influences on food intake in 2 non-Western migrant origin groups. The authors were particularly interested in the influence of the traditional culture and its relevance within the context of migration and associated changes in social, economic and cultural context, including acculturation.
Design
Qualitative focus group discussions.
Setting
City of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Participants
Young adults of Turkish and Moroccan migrant origin.
Phenomenon of Interest
Social and cultural influences on food intake.
Analysis
Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using framework analysis.
Results
A dominant theme that emerged is that of hospitality and the central role of food herein. Hospitality is rooted within the cultural and religious tradition of both groups. Additional themes that emerged were: cultural identity; migration and lifestyle change; and acculturation.
Conclusions and Implications
Among Dutch residents of Turkish and Moroccan migrant origin, the central role of food in culture coupled with the changes that come about as a result of migration create an environment of abundance that can lead to overeating, which may impact energy balance and overweight development. These results indicate that younger members of migrant origin populations continue to value their traditional food cultures, underpinning the need for interventions to be culturally se
nsitive
Many migrant groups of non-Western origin living in Western societies have high levels of overweight and obesity.1, 2, 3 and 4 This is likely to be a result of health behaviors, including diet and physical activity.2 As these groups form an increasingly important part of many Western societies (including the Netherlands), it is necessary to consider them in the development of intervention strategies aimed at improving diet, increasing physical activity, and preventing overweight.
However, many interventions do not succeed in recruiting or retaining groups of migrant or ethnic minority origin.5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 Although it is generally accepted that culture has an influence on health behaviors including diet,10, 11 and 12 interventions may be poorly adapted to the cultural context that drives health behavior,13 which may partly explain this phenomenon. Therefore, interventions need to be sensitive to culture, ideally by incorporating ethnic/cultural characteristics, experiences, norms, values, behavioral patterns, and beliefs of a target population, as well as relevant historical, environmental, and social forces in their design, delivery, and evaluation.14
Although culture may have an influence on health-related behavior, it is also important to recognize that culture is not a static concept. In the case of migrants, the process of acculturation, which “comprehends those phenomena which result when groups of individuals having different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact with subsequent changes in the original culture patterns of either or both groups,”15 may have an impact on health behavior and ultimately the place of culture in interventions. Numerous studies have shown that acculturation influences the diet of migrant origin groups.16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 However, there is little explicit discussion in the literature on whether culturally sensitive interventions continue to be necessary for migrants who are acculturated to their host environment or for younger members of migrant communities who are likely to have been born in the host country. Additionally, although it has been shown that the food eaten may change with acculturation, the authors found no studies that considered whether this is also the case for the beliefs governing the eating habits of migrants or ethnic minority groups. This information is necessary for the development of interventions targeting groups of migrant origin; more importantly, it is relevant for making decisions regarding the need for culturally sensitive approaches when targeting younger or more acculturated members of these groups.
Two of the largest non-Western migrant groups in Western European countries are of Turkish origin (the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom) and of Moroccan origin (the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain). In these countries, emigration from Turkey and Morocco was encouraged in the 1970s to ease labor shortages; since that time, further emigration has occurred owing to family reunification and formation. In the Netherlands, many reside in the larger cities. In Amsterdam, Turkish and Moroccan individuals of migrant origin represent 5% and 9% of the total population, respectively.21
Data on the sociocultural factors that influence the dietary behaviors of migrant origin groups in the Netherlands are sparse. The authors therefore conducted a qualitative study using focus groups to explore the social and cultural influences on food intake of Amsterdam residents aged 20-40 years of Turkish and Moroccan origin. Specifically, the authors aimed to elucidate the influence of the traditional culture and its relevance within the context of migration and acculturation. The present study included younger, potentially more acculturated members of these groups to facilitate the evaluation of acculturation on dietary behaviors.
