Szczepura, Ala (2011) Nutrition in an ethnically diverse society : what are some of the key challenges? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, Vol.70 (No.2). pp. 252-262. doi:10.1017/S0029665111000085

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Abstract

The role of nutrition is especially important in certain ‘lifestyle’ diseases that impact disproportionately
on ethnic minority populations. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence
of risk, health outcomes and interventions for certain diseases that affect the UK’s largest
ethnic minority group (South Asians) in order to help professionals better address the needs of
this diverse population. Research evidence is presented on factors influencing access to services
by ethnic minority populations and the changing UK policy background for public health and
preventive care. The available research base on obesity, diabetes and CVD is discussed. Conditions
such as type 2 diabetes, which are more prevalent among the South Asian population,
are associated with poorer health outcomes and appear to exhibit links to diet and nutrition that
start in childhood or even before birth; all making preventive care important. Obesity is a
major risk factor and it appears that BMI thresholds may need to be lower for South Asians.
Targeted interventions to improve diet and outcomes in the South Asian population also appear
promising. Recent moves to promote access to evidence of ethnicity and health and to improve
the cultural competence of organisations are discussed. Health professionals will increasingly
need to promote lifestyle changes in a manner that meets the needs of a diverse population in
order to address future public health challenges. Nutritionists and other professionals will need
to ensure that interventions are culturally appropriate and involve engagement with extended
family members and communities.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Alternative Title:	Conference on ‘Nutrition and health: cell to community’ : plenary lecture
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine T Technology > TX Home economics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	South Asians -- Great Britain -- Health and hygiene, South Asians -- Great Britain -- Nutrition, South Asians -- Great Britain -- Medical care, Obesity -- Great Britain, Non-insulin-dependent diabetes -- Great Britain, Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	0029-6651
Official Date:	30 March 2011
Dates:	Date Event 30 March 2011 Published
Volume:	Vol.70
Number:	No.2
Page Range:	pp. 252-262
DOI:	10.1017/S0029665111000085
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Great Britain) (NICE), Great Britain. National Health Service (NHS)

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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