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Migration, Acculturation and Environment: Determinants of Obesity among Iranian Migrants in Australia

Author

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  • Maryam Delavari

    (WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia)

  • Anders Larrabee Sønderlund

    (School of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QJ, UK)

  • David Mellor

    (School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia)

  • Mohammadreza Mohebbi

    (Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia)

  • Boyd Swinburn

    (WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia
    School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand)

Abstract

While migration from low- to high-income countries is typically associated with weight gain, the obesity risks of migration from middle-income countries are less certain. In addition to changes in behaviours and cultural orientation upon migration, analyses of changes in environments are needed to explain post-migration risks for obesity. The present study examines the interaction between obesity-related environmental factors and the pattern of migrant acculturation in a sample of 152 Iranian immigrants in Victoria, Australia. Weight measurements, demographics, physical activity levels and diet habits were also surveyed. The pattern of acculturation (relative integration, assimilation, separation or marginalization) was not related to body mass index, diet, or physical activity behaviours. Three relevant aspects of participants’ perception of the Australian environment (physically active environments, social pressure to be fit, unhealthy food environments) varied considerably by demographic characteristics, but only one (physically active environments) was related to a pattern of acculturation (assimilation). Overall, this research highlighted a number of key relationships between acculturation and obesity-related environments and behaviours for our study sample. Theoretical models on migration, culture and obesity need to include environmental factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Delavari & Anders Larrabee Sønderlund & David Mellor & Mohammadreza Mohebbi & Boyd Swinburn, 2015. "Migration, Acculturation and Environment: Determinants of Obesity among Iranian Migrants in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:2:p:1083-1098:d:44990
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lee, Soo-Kyung & Sobal, Jeffery & Frongillo, Edward A., 2000. "Acculturation and health in Korean Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 159-173, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Emmanuel Cohen & Norbert Amougou & Amandine Ponty & Juliette Loinger-Beck & Téodyl Nkuintchua & Nicolas Monteillet & Jonathan Y. Bernard & Rihlat Saïd-Mohamed & Michelle Holdsworth & Patrick Pasquet, 2017. "Nutrition Transition and Biocultural Determinants of Obesity among Cameroonian Migrants in Urban Cameroon and France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, June.
    2. Youlim Kim & Young-Me Lee & Mikyeong Cho & Hyeonkyeong Lee, 2019. "Effect of a Pedometer-Based, 24-Week Walking Intervention on Depression and Acculturative Stress among Migrant Women Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-11, November.
    3. Isaac Yeboah Addo & Loren Brener & Augustine Danso Asante & John Wit, 2022. "Moderating Effects of Socio-Demographic Factors in Associations Between Acculturation and Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviours: a Study of Australian Residents Born in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 2195-2217, December.
    4. Lilian G. Perez & John M. Ruiz & David Berrigan, 2019. "Neighborhood Environment Perceptions among Latinos in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-13, August.

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