“I am not really into the government telling me what I need to eat”: exploring dietary beliefs, knowledge, and practices among ethnically diverse communities in England

Abstract

Background Communities with diverse ethnicity in high-income countries are disproportionately affected by poor diet-related health outcomes. In England, the United Kingdom’s government’s healthy eating dietary resources are not well accepted and are underutilised among this population. Thus, this study explored perceptions, beliefs, knowledge, and practices around dietary intake among communities with African and South Asian ethnicity residing in Medway, England. Methods This qualitative study generated data from 18 adults aged 18 and above using a semi-structured interview guide. These participants were sampled using purposive and convenience sampling strategies. All the interviews were conducted in English over the telephone, and responses were thematically analysed. Results Six overarching themes were generated from the interview transcripts: eating patterns, social and cultural factors, food preferences and routines, accessibility and availability, health and healthy eating, and perceptions about the United Kingdom government’s healthy eating resources. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that strategies to improve access to healthy foods are required to improve healthy dietary practices among the study population. Such strategies could help address this group’s structural and individual barriers to healthy dietary practices. In addition, developing a culturally responsive eating guide could also enhance the acceptability and utilisation of such resources among communities with ethnic diversity in England.

“For me, it is for longevity and making sure I am fit and around for my children”: exploring motivations and barriers for weight management among minoritised communities in Medway, England

“…The choice of this analytical technique was informed by its flexibility to allow a researcher’s subjectivity in producing knowledge [ 23 ]. This technique has also been used in studies involving minoritised communities of diverse ethnicities [ 13 ] to explore similarities and differences [ 29 , 30 ] in the perspectives and experiences of participants based on different ethnic backgrounds [ 22 ]. The analytical technique involved a largely data-driven and bottom-up approach to reflexively generate themes from the data transcripts [ 22 ].…”

“…Evidence from previous studies reveals that there is a higher risk of abdominal obesity among Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Black African and Black Caribbean migrants when compared to their white British counterparts [ 9 , 12 , 13 ]. Besides non-modifiable factors that can influence body weight, such as age, sex and genetic makeup, there are modifiable factors of body weight, such as diet, physical activity, and some social and environmental factors [ 8 ].…”

“…Besides non-modifiable factors that can influence body weight, such as age, sex and genetic makeup, there are modifiable factors of body weight, such as diet, physical activity, and some social and environmental factors [ 8 ]. The United Kingdom is ranked third regarding the volume of sales of ultra-processed food per capita, relative to other high-and-middle-income countries, which contributes to an obesogenic society [ 13 ]. The availability of unhealthy foods has been linked to obesity more consistently than the availability of healthy foods [ 14 ].…”

“…There is consequently a need to emphasise the importance of weight management for migrants and minoritised communities in the United Kingdom because of their vulnerability, as they are disproportionately affected by weight-related chronic conditions in the United Kingdom [ 9 , 12 , 13 ]. Some factors motivate individuals to engage in effective weight management activities, while others act as barriers.…”

A Qualitative evaluation in community settings in England exploring the experiences of coaches delivering the NHS Low Calorie Diet programme pilot to ethnically diverse participants

“… 13 Existing research from the perspectives of patients often underscores the need for culturally relevant support, such as through cultural competency of HCPs and culturally tailored resources such as dietary resources. 14 For example, In the USA, health coaches have been reported to value shared characteristics with their clients which have helped to build a trusting relationship and support with decision-making. 15 More generally, previous research has explored the experiences of HCP–participant interactions and highlighted the significance of coach–participant relationships in enhancing health behaviours and outcomes.…”