Differences in food and nutrient intake by age, place of birth and patterns of food choice in British African-Caribbean population sample

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological studies examining differences in disease patterns between migrant and resident populations suggest lifestyle factors including diet may be responsible. This paper reports an exploration of the food and nutrient intake of a randomly selected African-Caribbean (AfC) population sample resident in Manchester, UK. A quantitative food frequency questionnaire developed specifically for this population was interview administered. Over 80 percent of those invited completed the questionnaire (102 men, 153 women; mean age 54 and 49 years, respectively). Subjects following a traditional West Indian diet had a lower percent energy provided by fat compared to those following a non-traditional diet (men traditional 30.4 percent vs. non-traditional 33.1 percent; women traditional 32.6 percent vs 31.6 percent non-traditional). Those subjects born in the Caribbean (mean age 59 years) had a lower percent energy provided by fat compared to younger (mean age 30 years) UK born AfC subjects (31 percent vs 35 percent for both men and women). At present the AfC population is consuming a diet lower in fat than the majority white population and one that is in line with Government recommendations that no more than 35 percent of food energy is to be provided by fat. This could be an explanation for the lower rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) seen in the British AfC population. However, as younger AfC are selecting a more European type diet, higher in fat, this could result in change in CHD risk.(AU)