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Barriers to Lifestyle Behavioral Change in Migrant South Asian Populations

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Abstract

The purpose of this literature review is to describe and assess the cultural barriers to behavior change in migrant South Asians, given the high morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease in this population. We reviewed studies that explored the relationship between South Asian culture in the Diaspora and lifestyle behaviors. Our review produced 91 studies, of which 25 discussed the relationship between various aspects of South Asians’ belief system and their approach to modifying lifestyle habits. We identify 6 specific categories of beliefs which play the largest role in the difficulties South Asians describe with behavior change: gender roles, body image, physical activity misconceptions, cultural priorities, cultural identity, and explanatory model of disease. Future research and interventions should account for these cultural factors to successfully improve dietary habits and physical activity levels in migrant South Asian populations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Helen-Ann Brown Epstein, MLS MS AHIP for her assistance with the literature review for this manuscript.This work was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Grant Number T32 HS000066. Erica Phillips-Caesar and Carla Boutin-Foster are also supported by the Center for Excellence in Health Disparities Research and Community Engagement (CEDREC) NIMHD P60 MD003421-02.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Divison of General Internal Medicine, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10025, USA

    Mihir Patel

  2. Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluative Sciences Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Erica Phillips-Caesar & Carla Boutin-Foster

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  1. Mihir Patel
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Correspondence to Mihir Patel.

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Patel, M., Phillips-Caesar, E. & Boutin-Foster, C. Barriers to Lifestyle Behavioral Change in Migrant South Asian Populations. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 774–785 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9550-x

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