Exploring weight status, dietary intake and acculturation in South Asian women living in Brisbane, Queensland

Aim: To investigate the relationship between socio‐demographic characteristics, acculturation, weight status and dietary intake among a group of women from India and Pakistan living in Brisbane, Australia. Methods: Cross‐sectional survey of a convenience sample of 22 women that collected: socio‐demographic details; levels of acculturation; food intake using a specifically designed food frequency questionnaire and food diary; and anthropometric measurements. Data were compared with women from South Australia. Results: Women had a mean age of 38 years (24–50) and had been in Australia for an average of 4 years (1–25). Half (50%) of the women were categorised as overweight or obese and over two‐thirds (68%) had a waist measurement indicative of a high risk of chronic disease. A higher proportion of women from Pakistan were overweight and obese compared with Indian women. Women in this sample appeared to have a higher consumption of dairy, bread and cereals, vegetables and baked goods/snacks and were more likely to consume full‐fat milk compared with other Australian women. Breakfast was the meal most likely to have been ‘Australianised’. Conclusion: Despite the results not reaching statistical significance, these findings do point to areas worthy of further investigation. These include the relationship between acculturation factors with dietary intake and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in this small sample, there appears to be a need to investigate diet and physical activity in specific groups to inform the development of culturally relevant chronic disease identification and management programmes.