Children of Mexican immigrants eat bad U.S. diet, Penn State study finds
Boys in Mexican immigrant families have among the highest obesity rates among young children of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
A new study from Pennsylvania State University suggests a possible reason why: an affinity for the fast-food-rich American diet.
In a new study in the journal Social Science & Medicine, researchers Molly Dondero and Jennifer Van Hook reported a significant difference in dietary quality between Mexican immigrant mothers and their children.
This difference was less pronounced among those who live in immigrant enclaves, the Penn State researchers found, using results from a national health and nutrition survey.
On average, first-generation children scored nearly 5 points lower than their mothers on the Healthy Eating Index, a standard measure of dietary quality.
That represents the difference between consuming the recommended daily amount of fruit, vegetables, or protein, and not eating any of these food groups at all, the researchers wrote.
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