http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5683-7876
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ABSTRACT
This study examines nutrient intake and factors influencing eating behaviors in a sample of 76 migrant older women (≥ 60 years) living in the UK. Nutrient intake was assessed using a 24-hr recall enhanced by an in-depth probing dietary interview. Median energy intake was significantly lower than the UK RNIs (5,125.4 v. 7,301.1 kJ/d, p < .001). Main nutrients of concern were retinol, vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, copper, selenium, and monounsaturated fatty acids. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a subsample (n = 46) and analyzed using thematic analysis. Although women were knowledgeable about what constitutes a healthy diet, factors such as the presence and awareness of obesity and noncommunicable diseases, changes to household roles, and dietary restrictions related to religious beliefs were identified key influences on participants’ dietary intake. Strategies targeting this population need to promote not only a healthy energy balance, but also dietary adequacy to optimize nutrient intake.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the study participants, their families, and community leaders who made this study possible.
Funding
This study and DCG were partially supported by the National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT, Mexico) and by seed-corn funding from the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS, University of Birmingham). SR’s time is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (CLAHRC West) at University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.