Impact of migration on dietary patterns and nutritional status in adolescents of Moroccan origin living in Madrid

MORA, ANA; ANZID, KARIM; MONTERO LÓPEZ, PILAR; MARRODÁN, MARÍA DOLORES; CHERKAOUI, MOHAMED; RODRÍGUEZ LÓPEZ, SANTIAGO; CARMENATE, MARGARITA

Marrakech

Congreso; I International Conference - Investing in nutrition for development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); 2011

Societé Marocaine de Nutrition

Migration processes are associated with changes in dietary patterns that can influence the nutritional status of individuals. To analyze changes on eating behavior associated to migration two samples were compared: the first collected in 2007, consists of 327 individuals from Ouarzazate (135 boys and 192 girls) aged between 15 and 20 years. The second collected in 2009 comprise 101 adolescents (51 boys and 50 girls) of Moroccan origin living in Madrid (Spain) and aged between 13 and 19 years. Information about anthropometric variables (weight, height, z-scores for height and BMI compared to the standard WHO) and dietary patterns were analyzed. The Ouarzazate sample shows a 6.3% of overweight and 1.0% of obesity, while the sample living in Madrid reach 23% of overweight and 4.0% of obesity. In the sample from Ouarzazate overweight problems coexist with thinness and severely underweight, while in the Madrid sample malnutrition disappears and increases significantly overweight, particularly in the female series. The average height is higher in boys living in Madrid than in Ouarzazate, which could be interpreted as an indicator of improved living conditions and energy balance. No differences were observed between girls samples. The main observed changes in eating patterns associated with migration are reduced fish consumption and increased consumption of meat, dairy products and industrial bakery. The consumption of fruits, vegetables, potatoes, beans, rice and madehome bread do not change with migration. Bread is the food that has less variation in consumption. Also they keep ?halal? meat consumption.