Dietary intake, lifestyles and risk of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in a Punjabi south Asian male population in Kent, United Kingdom

Chronic nutrition related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs) are more prevalent in south Asians living in the United Kingdom compared to the general UK population. Observed differences have been attributed to inter-generational nutritional experiences and pattern of lifestyle changes which affect the risk of adult disease in later life. The aim of this research is to investigate socio-demographic variables, their food culture, dietary intakes, lifestyles, physical activity and experiences that contribute to the risk factor of NR-NCDs. Therefore, this study was designed in three phases. Phase I: A focus group study involving male participants (n=40) were used to collect sample population-wide data about food-related attitudes, habits and choices, methods of recipe formulation, food preparation and eating behaviours. Phase II: A randomly selected sample of adult males (n=137) of Punjabi origin were used to collect population-wide data using modified a pre-validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) previously used in Europe and a 24-hour recall dietary intake questionnaire. A modified version of the validated WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to assess physical activity. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were also taken to examine physical and physiological indicators of risk. Phase III: a quasi-randomly selected sub-group (n=30) then undertook physiological and biochemical tests including blood pressure, fasting serum lipid and glucose measurements. Later data from phase II and phase III were analysed based on first and second generation migrant status. Statistical comparisons including non-parametric qualitative analysis of focus group data; qualitative and quantitative tests comparing within and between first and second generation migrant groups, analysis of variances and multiple regression analysis were used to establish relationships to the risk factors for NR-NCDs. Overall data suggest this Punjabi migrant population analysed in phase II and III have significantly ...