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What are Asian-American Youth Consuming? A Systematic Literature Review

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Abstract

Numerous studies have explored dietary practices among children, but there are limited studies on children of Asian background in the US. This review had three aims: (a) review literature regarding Asian-American youth’s dietary behaviors, (b) critically evaluate the methodological quality of such research, and (c) provide recommendations for future nutrition-related research on Asian-American youth. The authors conducted a systematic literature review through MEDLINE (EBSCO), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCO), and Embase (Ovid); extracted descriptive data; and evaluated methodological quality. Thirteen articles were included. Major findings included: (a) frequent consumption of milk, fruit, meat, unenriched white rice, vegetables, and high-fat and high-sugar items among Asian-American children and (b) acculturation’s influences on diet, resulting in Asian-American youth consuming diets characterized by both Asian and American foods. Findings from this review may inform education and promotion programs and services for Asian Americans in the US.

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Acknowledgments

This work is a publication of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS) Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement from the US government. The contents of this manuscript are part of C.S.D.’s dissertation work. C.S.D. was supported fully by a Primary Care Research Training Grant from National Research Service Award (#T32 HP10031). We are grateful for valuable comments from Tom Baranowski and the journal reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Cassandra S. Diep

  2. Medical Sciences Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Margaret J. Foster

  3. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    E. Lisako J. McKyer, Patricia Goodson & Jeffrey J. Guidry

  4. Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Jeffrey Liew

  5. Department of Pediatrics, USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX, 77030-2600, USA

    Cassandra S. Diep

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  1. Cassandra S. Diep
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Correspondence to Cassandra S. Diep.

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Diep, C.S., Foster, M.J., McKyer, E.L.J. et al. What are Asian-American Youth Consuming? A Systematic Literature Review. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 591–604 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9905-6

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