Exploring obesogenic environments: the design and development of the migrant obesogenic perception of the environment questionnaire (MOPE-Q) using a sample of Iranian migrants in Australia

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough there are a number of studies examining the effect of migration on obesity, these studies tend to focus on the role of acculturation in this relationship. However, there are indications that the change in environment may also be an important factor. Indeed, there is a considerable lack of psychometric tools designed to assess the association between environment and migrant health behaviour. The current study aimed to assess the literature on the link between environment and health for migrants, and on the basis of this information, design and develop the Migrant Obesogenic Perception of the Environment questionnaire (MOPE-Q). The MOPE-Q is the first comprehensive measure of the impact of environmental factors on migrant health behaviour related to physical activity, food habits and body image concern, as well as weight change.MethodsUsing a systematic approach, an initial pool of items for the questionnaire was developed and refined on the basis of rigorous content and face validity assessments and factor analysis. Further, reliability tests and test re-test studies were undertaken. Differences between Iranian and Australian environmental factors as they relate to obesogenic behaviour were explored using the developed measure.ResultsA total of 36 items were developed for the MOPE-Q. Principal factor analysis identified three similar factor structures of environmental factors related to obesity (categorized in terms of facilitators, barriers and pressures) for each country. The final questionnaire consisted of four distinct subscales pertaining specifically to the Australian environment and five subscales pertaining to the Iranian environment, accounting for 59% and 63%, respectively, of the total variance in obesity rates. Data suggests that the MOPE-Q is a reliable and valid self-report measure for assessing the relationship between environmental factors linked to obesity and obesogenic behaviour for this particular migrant group.ConclusionThe variations in environmental factors linked to obesity behaviour between home (Iran) and host (Australia) countries have been incorporated into the MOPE-Q instrument which has shown good psychometric properties. The MOPE-Q can be adapted and applied to other environments and populations to help explain changes in diet, physical activity patterns and body weight in migrant groups as they acculturate.

Barriers and facilitators to childhood obesity prevention among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Victoria, Australia

“…Evidence shows that obesogenic environments are found in disadvantaged areas with a high proportion of CALD communities. 25,31 As found elsewhere, 32,33 CALD parents in our study prioritised program accessibility barriers including lack of a driver's licence and car ownership, poor public transport facilities and long distances. We found that poor adjustment to the cold weather in Victoria and lack of indoor playparks for children were key barriers for CALD groups.…”

Migration, Acculturation and Environment: Determinants of Obesity among Iranian Migrants in Australia

“…Finally, the Migrant Obesogenic Perception of the Environment questionnaire (MOPE-Q) [ 25 ] was used to gauge the experience of environmental determinants of obesity. The MOPE-Q was specifically developed for the measurement of the influence of environments on migrant obesity and has been demonstrated to be both valid and reliable in this context [ 25 ]. This questionnaire is a 17-item scale designed to measure the environmental determinants of obesity that migrants might experience in Australia.…”

“…Environments are defined as the sum of influences of surroundings, opportunities, or conditions of life [ 25 ]. Dissecting this further, Swinburn et al .…”

“…Dissecting this further, Swinburn et al . [ 26 ] divide obesogenic environments into two levels (micro/settings and macro/sectors) and four types of environments ( physical “what is available?”, economic “what are the costs?”, policy “what are the rules?” and socio-cultural “what are the values, beliefs, and attitudes?”) [ 25 ]. Thus, a key question concerns the extent to which differences between home and host environments influence migrants’ body weight change.…”

“…Thus, a key question concerns the extent to which differences between home and host environments influence migrants’ body weight change. While there is some research touching on this [ 25 ], there are no studies specifically investigating how these environmental factors interact with patterns of acculturation to explain health-related outcomes, including obesity rates. Indeed, theories and constructs about how migration influences perceptions, behaviors and weight change, need to be expanded to incorporate the changes experienced by migrants moving from home to host environments.…”