South Asian Migrant Dietary Patterns in Australia
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This blog post provides a summary and expansion of the article “Spicing up your advice for South Asian and Anglo-Australians with type 2 diabetes and CVD: Do cultural constructions of diet matter?” By Gupta et al., 2018.
South Asian people are known to present with a higher risk of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, both in their home countries and the countries to which they have immigrated. Nutrition plays a vital role in the management of both these conditions; however, evidence shows that south Asian migrants in Australia have specific barriers to adopting traditional suggested changes.
Barrier 1: Culturally Inappropriate Advice
Barrier 2: Social Obligation and Special Occasions
What We Can Do As Health Professionals
Barrier 1: Culturally Inappropriate Advice
South Asian people find that dietary advice received from health professionals lack cultural relevance. For instance, many south Asians find the suggestion of traditional anglo-australian fruits like pears “sour tasting” in comparison to more traditionally consumed tropical fruits. Many south Asians also prefer the option of more vegetable dishes rather than fruit. South Asian people also place a high value on rice as staple food item, therefore advice to reduce the amount of rice eaten with other dishes in a typical serving is not sustainable.
The lack of knowledge of traditional fruit/vegetables and south Asian dishes by health professionals creates a barrier to change. When South Asian people are not able to discuss their traditional foods with health professionals and are only provided with Anglo Australian alternatives it further reduces the ability to change their nutritional choices.
Barrier 2: Social Obligation and Special Occasions
There is difficulty for South Asians to main dietary disease management due to traditional social obligations. Within the South Asian culture it is normal to provide and receive traditional foods in social gatherings. These foods are speciality foods usually only made for social gatherings and are typically deep fried and often richer in fat and sugar content. Social norms of South Asian hospitality culture require consumption of the offered foods. If one was to not consume the offered foods, you would risk losing social standing with ones social networks, contend with the stigma of not meeting social expectations and offending others.
There is also specific foods that are emblematic of symbolic/religious events in south Asian culture. These foods also usually contain a high fat and sugar content, however, there is a belief that as these foods are eaten for a divine purpose, they are not harmful.
Health practitioners must have an understanding as to how the south Asian culture places a high value on the provision and receiving food at social/religious gatherings/events. It is not possible to ask this ethic group to just not partake in these events, rather work on creating a flexible dietary plan that takes into accounts these events.
Barrier 3: Fatalism
As there is a known high risk of type 2 diabetes and CVD for the south Asian population, some people see their diagnosis as inevitable. This mindset promotes the idea that it doesn’t matter if you eat ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’, you will still be diagnosed. Therefore, there is no need to adhere to dietary restriction, if the disease is destined.
It is important to understand this view some south Asian people may have when trying to encourage behaviour change as a health professional.
What We Can Do As Health Professionals
As health professionals trying to promote long term behavioural change and self-management strategies, it is important to understand that there is no single south Asian diet. There is commonalities and specific traditions within the culture but there is diversity amongst the population. Diversity in the food consumed and methods of preparation including the type of fat or oil used for cooking.
The ideal way to promote healthy changes in south Asian diet is to have a general understanding of some south Asian dishes as well as traditional fruit/vegetables. If a south Asian person discusses a dish or fruit/vegetable you are unsure of, ask further questions to find out more information before suggesting alternatives that do not align with their food preferences. This will allow you as a health professional to increase your cultural dietary awareness and work with the person in front of you to find a flexible dietary choice.
It all comes down to having a holistic person centred approach rather than a one size fits all approach that is seen in all forms of healthcare, whether that be dietetics or physiotherapy.
In the infographics section you can find our “A-Z Asian Vegetables Guide”.
Gupta, S. S., Teede, H., & Aroni, R. (2018). Spicing up your advice for South Asian and Anglo-Australians with type 2 diabetes and CVD: Do cultural constructions of diet matter? Appetite, 120, 679–697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.10.007
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