Summary
A study in the journal Health Education and Behavior uses California Health Interview Survey data to find that efforts to intervene with people who are overweight or obese need to consider their racial/ethnic backgrounds and develop culturally-tailored interventions. Authors Dara H. Sorkin and John Billimek, assistant adjunct professors with UC Irvine's Health Policy Research Institute, noted that Latino and Asian immigrants eat more fruits and vegetables whereas subsequent generations consume more junk food. Given the importance of family in these two communities, efforts targeting healthy eating should take a multigenerational approach that emphasizes the healthiest food choices, are compatible with cultural origins, and take into account close relationships within the family to change behavior, researchers said.
Publication Authors:
- Dara H. Sorkin, PhD
- John Billimek