Session: Health Equity/Social Determinants of Health 7
737 - Acculturation and Diet Quality in Children and Adolescents: Findings from NHANES
Sunday, April 27, 2025
8:30am – 10:45am HST
Publication Number: 737.3652
Sophie Ravanbakht, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States; Gina Tripicchio, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Gerardo Salgado-Martinez, The Center for Obesity Research and Education, Roscoe, NY, United States; Jennifer O. Fisher, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Cody D. Neshteruk, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
Medical Instructor Duke University School of Medicine Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Background: The US immigrant population has increased over the past two decades. Although there is some evidence that acculturation is linked with obesity, the association between acculturation and diet quality among youth is not well understood, particularly in a nationally representative sample. Objective: We aimed to evaluate youth diet quality by acculturation among US youth aged 2-19. Design/Methods: Data were from 8,622 youth aged 2-19 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dietary recall (2011-2018) with 1-day of dietary recall data. Acculturation status was assessed using US nativity: both born in the US (i.e., US-born families), both born outside of the US (i.e. foreign-born families), foreign-born caregiver, US-born child, and US-born caregiver, foreign-born child (n=94). Outcomes were the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score (0-100) and component scores (higher component scores indicate higher intake for adequacy components, e.g, fruit, and lower intake for moderation components, e.g., added sugar). Linear regression models adjusted for survey design, child age, sex, weight category, caregiver education, and household poverty-income ratio. Results: Compared to US-born families foreign-born families had higher total HEI scores (β=4.55, p< 0.01). Specifically, foreign-born families had higher HEI component scores for greens and beans (β=0.59), total fruits (β=0.78), whole fruits (β=0.82), saturated fats (β=1.01), and added sugars (β=1.05) (all p< 0.01). Compared to US-born families, families with a foreign-born caregiver and US-born child had higher total HEI scores (β=2.64), and higher component scores for greens and beans (β=0.37), total fruits (β=0.37) and added sugar (β=0.91) (all p< 0.01).
Conclusion(s): In a national sample, foreign-born families and families where only the child was US-born had significantly higher total HEI scores and increased intake of fruits and reduced intake of added sugar than US-born families. Future studies should explore the relationship between acculturation, dietary and nutritional behaviors, and obesity risk.
