Health and Place
Volume 18, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 883-891

Influences on body weight of female Moroccan migrants in the Netherlands: A qualitative study (Article)

Nicolaou M.* , Benjelloun S. , Stronks K. , van Dam R.M. , Seidell J.C. , Doak C.M.
  • a Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Nutrition and Health, Institute for Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Human Nutrition and Development, Rabat, Morocco
  • c Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • d Departments of Epidemiology and Public Health and Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • e Department of Nutrition and Health, Institute for Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • f Department of Nutrition and Health, Institute for Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

We aimed to gain insight into the influences on Moroccan migrant women's weight and weight-related behavior by enriching their perspectives with those of their non-migrant compatriots living in Morocco. In focus groups with migrant women in Amsterdam, participants attributed overweight to traditional Moroccan foods and food culture. In contrast, focus group participants in Morocco emphasized that overweight in migrants was largely due to their adoption of the Western diet. Results from women in both locations indicate a general lack of knowledge regarding appropriate physical activity. Migrants attributed their lower levels of physical activity to changes in lifestyle due to migration and reported having problems adjusting to these changes. All participants reported a cultural shift in preference towards slimmer body sizes. However, weight gain still tends to be seen as a sign of success. In designing interventions, universal approaches may be sufficient to address migration-related influences on behavior; however behavior that is driven by migrants' socio-cultural context may require more culturally appropriate strategies. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Author Keywords

Migration Obesity Socio-cultural Netherlands Morocco

Index Keywords

physical activity Netherlands educational status human Health Behavior ethnic group obesity priority journal controlled study feeding behavior qualitative research weight weight related behavior cultural shift Amsterdam [North Holland] North Holland body build social belief female qualitative analysis cultural factor Article lifestyle modification adult migration body weight international migration food intake Moroccan weight gain womens health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84861932171&doi=10.1016%2fj.healthplace.2012.03.001&partnerID=40&md5=fa7e4415011b4ec39b77d2562080402d
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.03.001
ISSN: 13538292
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English