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Sugar consumption and preference among Mexican, Chinese, and Nigerian immigrants to Texas
Author(s) -
Alonge Olusegun K.,
Narendran Sena,
Hobdell Martin H.,
Bahl Saroj
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2011.00201.x
Subject(s) - residence , sugar , medicine , preference , consumption (sociology) , sugar consumption , immigration , demographics , added sugar , demography , environmental health , food science , geography , biology , social science , archaeology , sociology , economics , microeconomics
This pilot study investigated the relationship between sugar consumption/ preference and the length of residence in the U.S. among certain immigrant groups. The study sample consisted of 213 volunteers from community organizations and church groups, of Nigerian (45%), Mexican (31%), and Chinese (24%) descent. Data were collected on demographics, sugar consumption/preference (24‐hour dietary recall), and oral health status. The age of respondents varied from 18 to 93 years with a mean age of 37.0 ± 11.7 years. The mean length of residence was 9.2 ± 7.2 years, and the mean sugar consumption was 122.4 ± 114.6 g/day. Immigrants from Mexico and Nigeria reported consuming more servings of sweets per day than the Chinese ( p = .006); Mexican immigrants had the highest level of sugar preference ( p = .001). No significant differences were observed between the length of residence and either sugar consumption or sugar preference. Greater availability of sugar and sweet snacks does not always result in increased sugar consumption or sugar preference.