Nutritional consequences of U.S. migration patterns among Puerto Rican women

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Abstract
The study investigated the associations between the U.S. migration status of adult women horn in Puerto Rico and the adequacy of their energy and micro‐nutrient intake, macro‐nutrient composition of their diets and the prevalence of obesity. Three migrant groups were compared: non‐U.S. migrants, return migrants, and forward migrants. The groups differed in socioeconomic characteristics. Forward migrants had a more adequate energy and micro‐nutrient intake than non‐ and return migrants, even after controlling for socioeconomic variables (income, formal schooling, use of mass media). Return migrants had only higher calcium and vitamin C intakes than non‐migrants. Carbohydrates were a more important source of energy for non‐ and return migrants, while protein and fat were more important sources of energy for forward migrants. The prevalence of obesity was significantly lower among forward migrants than among non‐ and return migrants.