DIET AND ACCULTURATION IN CHINESE WOMEN

Information about acculturation of the increasing Asian-American popul ation is limited. Three groups of women between 18 and 35 years of age were recruited to assess nutrition-related acculturation in Chinese-A merican (CA) women. Biophysical measurements, dietary intake, nutritio n knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors, and eating attitudes we re estimated in the test group of 18 US-born CA and in two control gro ups of 20 foreign-born Chinese (FBC) and 18 white Americans (WA). No g roup differences existed for either percentages of body fat and lean b ody mass or for kilocalories from energy sources. Fat intake, close to the national average of 34% of kilocalories, may reflect the affluenc e of all groups. This finding refutes the commonly held notion that Ch inese consume low-fat diets. Of the three groups, CA women consumed th e most nutrient-dense diets. The FBC scored significantly lower than t he other groups on the nutrition knowledge test, missing questions abo ut blood pressure, heart rate, and ingredient labels. Nutrition knowle dge about fat was low and not different among the groups. Sixty-seven percent of WA, 50% of CA, and 20% of FBC responded that nutrition infl uenced their food choices. More nutrient-dense diets, greater nutritio n knowledge, and, to a lesser extent, improved attitudes about nutriti on indicate acculturation of US-born, CA women.