Migrants get a taste for Kiwi kai

A study has found that Asian migrants, especially South Asians, are more likely to change their diet the longer they live here. Photo / Chris Gorman

Study reveals Asians’ eating habits, and maybe health, change after move to NZ

Company director Sam Kamani grew up on a diet of mainly Indian roti and vegetable curry, but that's changed to bacon, eggs and steak since he moved to New Zealand.

Originally from Gujarat in North India, Mr Kamani said his diet had changed "drastically" since he came to New Zealand as an international student 12 years ago.

A University of Auckland study into Asian nutrition in New Zealand has found many Asian migrants, especially South Asians, are more likely to change their diet the longer they live here.

The study compared similarities and differences in diet, nutrition and health for Asian subgroups, using data from the 2008/09 adult national nutritional survey of 4721 people, in which about 10 per cent identified with Asian ethnicity.

"The results suggest the longer some Asians live in New Zealand, the more likely they are to adopt some features of a European diet," the report said. "This was more so for South Asians in contrast to East and Southeast Asians."

Dr Sherly Parackal from the School of Population Health, who did the analysis for the report, said differences were found between Asian subgroups regarding dietary guidelines for fruit, vegetable, bread, milk and meat consumption.

"A unique aspect of the South Asian subgroup was that ... they reported consuming lower amounts of meat, poultry and processed meats than New Zealand Europeans and others," said Dr Parackal.

"It followed that South Asians also had lower intakes of fat and protein among females, and saturated fats and cholesterol among males."

The study also found vitamins and minerals such as retinol, niacin, vitamin B12 and zinc were also lower among South Asian females.

"Given the high percentage of South Asians reporting that they never eat red meat or chicken, it's not surprising biochemical indices of iron status were lower for this group."

She said the results showed the importance of accounting for variations in dietary patterns within Asian subgroups to understand diet-related disease risk factors.

Mr Kamani said his home city was "predominantly vegetarian" with nowhere like McDonald's or KFC.

"The reason I was a vegetarian was not because of choice, you just can't find non-vegetarian food in my hometown," he said.

Mr Kamani started eating lots of fries, chips and burgers when he moved here because he was on a "student budget" and they were among the cheapest meals.

The study found nearly one in five South Asian males consumed fast food "more than three times per week", but in contrast just 0.4 per cent of females did so.

It's projected that by 2026, 15 per cent of the New Zealand population will be Asian.

Although migrants are usually healthier than the resident population when they arrive, changes in dietary patterns were an "important risk factor" for the development of chronic diseases among South Asian and Chinese migrants, the report said. The report advises future national surveys include an "adequate sample" of Asian subgroups to allow comparisons and make recommendations for the public health status of these groups.

Changing diet

• Study looking at the similarities and differences in diet, nutrition and health for Asian subgroups in New Zealand.

• Results suggest the longer some Asians live here, the more likely they are to adopt some features of a European diet.

• Differences were also found between Asian subgroups regarding dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetable, bread, milk and meat consumption.

• Nearly one in five South Asian males consumed fast food "more than three times per week", but in contrast just 0.4 per cent of females did so.

• It is projected that by 2026, 15 per cent of the NZ population will be Asian.