Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dietary Patterns and the Association with Dietary Quality Among Mongolian Immigrants in South Korea

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mongolian immigration into South Korea has increased rapidly over the last decade. It is important to better understand dietary patterns of immigrants because these patterns are associated with health risk. This study aimed to characterize dietary patterns of Mongolian immigrants in South Korea. Dietary intakes of 500 Mongolian adults living in South Korea were assessed using the interviewer-administered 24-h dietary recall method. By cluster analysis, three dietary patterns were identified: “Mongolian” (26 %), “Transitional” (43 %) and “Korean” (31 %). The “Korean” pattern had a favorable food intake profile, with higher intakes of healthy foods, while the other patterns had features of an unhealthy diet. There were significant differences between the dietary patterns that were related to risk for chronic diseases. Overall, subjects following the “Korean” dietary pattern showed high adherence to World Health Organization recommendations for preventing diet-related chronic diseases, whereas the “Mongolian” and “Transitional” patterns showed low compliance. The results suggest the need for education programs targeting Mongolian immigrants who retain traditional dietary habits, to enhance their healthy food choices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Berry JW. Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Appl Psychol-Int Rev. 1997;46:5–68.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Raj S, Ganganna P, Bowerng J. Dietary habits of Asian Indians in relation to length of residence in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:1106–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pan YL, Dizon Z, Humburg S, Huffman F. Asian students change their eating patterns after living in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:54–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Satia-Abouta J, Patterson RE, Neuhouser ML, Elder J. Dietary acculturation: application to nutrition research and dietetics. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:1105–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Song YJ, Hofstetter CR, Novell MF, Paik HY, Park HR, Lee J, Irvin V. Acculturation and health risk behaviors among Californians of Korean descent. Prev Med. 2004;39:147–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Batis C, Hernandex-Barreara L, Barquera S, Rivera JA, Popkin BM. Food acculturation drives dietary differences among Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and non-Hispanic Whites. J Nutr. 2011;141:1898–906.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Roshania R, Narayan KM, Oza-Frank R. Age at arrival and risk of obesity among US immigrants. Obesity. 2008;16:2669–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Huang B, Rodriguez B, Burchfiel CM, Chyou PH, Curb D, Yano Y. Acculturation and prevalence of diabetes among Japanese-American men in Hawaii. Am J Epidemiol. 1996;144:674–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Beiser M. The health of immigrants and refugees in Canada. Can J Public Health. 2005;96:S30–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Yang EJ, Chung HK, Kim WY, Bianchi L, Song WO. Chronic diseases and dietary changes in relation to Korean Americans’ length of residence in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007;107:942–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wong SS, Dixon LB, Bilbride JA, Kwan TW, Stein RA. Measures of acculturation are associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors, dietary intakes, and physical activity in older Chinese Americans in New York City. J Immigr Minor Health. 2013;15:560–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. National Statistical Office of Mongolia (NSO): Mongolia has launched the main findings of its 2010 Population and Housing Census.2010. http://www.toollogo2010.mn/medee.php?language=en&medeeID=239.

  13. Korea Immigration Service Ministry of Justice: KIS Statistics 2010. http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/COM/bbs_003/ListShowData.do?strNbodCd=noti0096&strWrtNo=121&strAnsNo=A&strOrgGbnCd=104000&strRtnURL=IMM_6050&strAllOrgYn=N&strThisPage=1&strFilePath=imm/.

  14. Ministry of Social Welfare and Labour: Status and consequences of Mongolian citizens working abroad. Ulaanbaatar: United Nations population fund and Mongolian population and development association. 2005.

  15. National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia: Realization of the rights of Mongolian citizens working in the Republic of Korea: In: Report on human rights and freedoms in Mongolia 2007, Ulaanbaatar: National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia. 2008: 74–81.

  16. Lee MJ, Popkin BM, Kim S. The unique aspects of the nutrition transition in South Korea: the retention of healthful elements in their traditional diet. Public Health Nutr. 2002;5:197–203.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO): Report of joint food security assessment mission to Mongolia. 2007. http://fao.org/docrep/fao/010/j9883e/j9883eoo.pdf.

  18. World Health Organization (WHO): Diet nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. WHO Technical Series 916. Geneva: WHO. 2003.

  19. Ministry of Health of Mongolia (MOH): Nutritional status of population of Mongolia. Second National Nutrition Survey. Ulaanbaatar: National Public Health Institute; 2000. p. 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ministry of Health. Mongolia (MOH): Mongolian ‘STPEGS’ survey on the prevalence of non-communicable disease and injury risk factors. Ulaanbaatar: National Public Health Institute; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ministry of Health. Mongolia (MOH): Mongolian ‘STPEGS’ survey on the prevalence of non-communicable disease and injury risk factors. Ulaanbaatar: National Public Health Institute; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Department of Health (DOH): Health indicators. Ulaanbaatar: Mongolian Government Implementing Agency. 2010.

  23. Dugee O, Knor GL, Lye MS, Luvsannyam L, Janchiv O, Jamyan B, Esa N. Association of major dietary patterns with obesity risk among Mongolian men and women. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2009;18:433–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bolormaa N, Narantya L, De Courten M, Enkhtuya P, Tsegmed S. Dietary and lifestyle risk factors for noncommunicable disease among the Mongolian population. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2008;20:S23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Komatsu F, Kagawa Y, Kawabata T, Kaneko Y, Purvee B, Otgon J, Chimedregzen U. Dietary habits of Mongolian people, and their influence on lifestyle-related diseases and early aging. Curr Aging Sci. 2008;1:84–100.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Jacques PF, Tucker KL. Are dietary patterns useful for understanding the role of diet in chronic disease? Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73:1–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Arkkola T, Uusitalo U, Kronberg-Kippila C, Männistö S, Virtanen M, Kenward MG, Veijola R, Knip R, Ovaskainen ML, Virtanen SM. Seven distinct dietary patterns identified among pregnant Finnish women—associations with nutrient intake and sociodemographic factors. Public Health Nutr. 2008;11:176–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wirfalt E, Hedblad B, Gullberg B. Food patterns and components of the metabolic syndrome in men and women: a cross sectional study within the Malmo diet and cancer cohort. Am J Epidemiol. 2001;154:1150–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Hu FB. Dietary pattern analysis: a new direction in nutrition epidemiology. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2002;13:3–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Millen BE, Quatromoni PA, Nam BY, O’horo CE, Polak JF, D’Agostino RB. Dietary patterns and the odds of carotid atherosclerosis in women: the Framingham nutrition studies. Prev Med. 2002;35:540–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Berrigan D, Dodd K, Troiano RP. Patterns of health behaviors in U.S. adults. Prev Med. 2003;36:615–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lv N, Cason KL. Dietary pattern change and acculturation of Chinese Americans in Pennsylvania. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:771–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Yang EJ, Kerver JM, Song WO. Dietary patterns of Korean American described by factory analysis. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005;24:115–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Delisle HF, Vioque J, Gil A. Dietary patterns and quality in West-African immigrants in Madrid. Nutr J. 2009;8:2005–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Dugee O. Dietary patterns of obesity risk among adults in Mongolia: dietary pattern and obesity risk. Saarbrücken: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Suinn RM. Measurement of acculturation of Asian Americans. Asian Am Pac Isl J Health. 1998;6:7–12.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Korean Nutrition Society (KNS). Dietary reference intake for Koreans. Seoul: Korean Nutrition Society; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Tucker KL, Chen H, Hanna MT, Cupples LA, Wilson PWF, Felson D, Kiel DP. Bone mineral density and dietary patterns in older adults: the Framingham osteoporosis study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;46:245–52.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Newby PK, Muller D, Hallfrisch J, Qiao N, Andres R, Tucker KL. Dietary patterns and changes in body mass index and waist circumference in adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77:1417–25.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Villegas R, Salim A, Collins MM, Flynn A, Perry IJ. Dietary patterns in middle-aged Irish men and women defined by cluster analysis. Public Health Nutr. 2004;7:1017–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Song YJ, Journ H, Engelhardt K, Yoo SY, Paik HY. Traditional v. modified dietary patterns and their influence on adolescents’ nutritional profile. Br J Nutr. 2005;93:943–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. O’Sullivan A, Gibney MJ, Brennan L. Dietary intake patterns are reflected in metabolomic profiles: potential role in dietary assessment studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93:314–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Kant AK. Dietary patterns and health outcomes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:615–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Song DY, Park JE, Shim JE, Lee JE. Trends in the major dish groups and food groups contributing to sodium intake in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1998–2010. Korean J Nutr. 2013;46:72–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Ministry of Health and Welfare. National Health Statistics-The 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) 2009. Seoul: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Otgontuty D, Khor GL, Lye MS, Norhaizan ME. Obesity among Mongolian adults from urban and rural areas. Malays J Nutr. 2009;15:185–94.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Darmon N, Khlat M. An overview of the health status of migrants in France, in relation to their dietary practices. Public Health Nutr. 2001;4:163–72.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Unger JB, Reynolds K, Shakib S, Spruijt-Metz D, Sun P, Johnson A. Acculturation, physical activity, and fast food consumption among Asian American and Hispanic adolescents. J Commun Health. 2004;29:467–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Diez Roux AV, Detrano R, Jackson S, Jacobs DR, Schreiner PJ, Shea S, Szklo M. Acculturation and socioeconomic position as predictors of coronary calcification in a multiethnic sample. Circulation. 2005;112:1557–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Newby PK, Tucker KL. Empirically derived eating patterns using factor or cluster analysis: a review. Nutr Rev. 2004;62:177–203.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Kudo Y, Falciglia GA, Couch SC. Evolution of meal patterns and food choices of Japanese-American females born in the United States. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000;54:665–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Lv N, Cason KL. Dietary pattern change and acculturation of Chinese Americans in Pennsylvania. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;141:1898–906.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Tompson FE, Subar AF. Dietary assessment methodology. In: Coulston AM, Rock CL, Monsen ER, editors. Nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease. San Diego: Academic Press; 2001. p. 3–30.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Nutrition, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 449-728, South Korea

    Haeryun Park, Kyung-Hee Song & Youngmi Lee

  2. Mongolia Center for Improvement of Nutrition, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Zuunnast Tserendejid

  3. Graduate School of Education, Kyonggi University, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

    Jounghee Lee

Authors
  1. Haeryun Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zuunnast Tserendejid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kyung-Hee Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jounghee Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Youngmi Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Youngmi Lee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Park, H., Tserendejid, Z., Song, KH. et al. Dietary Patterns and the Association with Dietary Quality Among Mongolian Immigrants in South Korea. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 422–431 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0047-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0047-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation