Review of dietary interventions in black and minority ethnic groups published

Thursday 21 May 2009

The Food Standards Agency Wales has published a review of dietary interventions in black and minority ethnic (BME) groups across the UK.

The overall aim of the work was to analyse the BME situation in Wales, review dietary interventions in BME groups and to recommend which interventions and models might be most applicable for piloting with ethnic communities in Wales.

The review makes six recommendations for future dietary intervention in BME groups:

1. Evaluations of dietary interventions in BME groups should use rigorous and appropriate research methodologies.

2. If the available funding is not sufficient to include a good evaluation, then every effort should be made to collaborate with other agencies or groups to increase the funding.

3. Evaluated dietary interventions for the general population should consider boosting the numbers of BME participants so that conclusions can be drawn out relating to BME groups. Realistically, this will probably be best achieved by focusing on one of the BME ethnic groups.

4. Evaluation tools need to be appropriate and validated for the specific BME groups, for example, food intake measurement techniques.

5. Any future evaluated dietary interventions in BME groups should explicitly include the theoretical bases used to structure the intervention, and to develop the behaviour change elements.

6. Evaluation of dietary interventions in BME groups should assess cost-effectiveness, whether the results can be applied more generally to the relevant BME group and sustainability (in addition to effectiveness in changing behaviour, nutritional status, or attitudes). Interventions should also incorporate the relevant characteristics of successful projects where these are relevant.

FSA Wales is currently considering how to take forward the recommendations made.

The report of the work is divided into two parts. Part 1, the analysis of the BME situation in Wales, includes: literacy levels in different groups, the languages understood, any specific cultural issues that need to be taken into account when planning an engagement activity, and diet-related health as well as food and nutrient intakes.

Part 2 reviews evaluated UK dietary interventions targeting BME groups and research identified in the published literature. In addition, searches were undertaken of the information produced by government, academics, business and industry, with further information collected from relevant networks and contacts.

Anyone seeking further information should contact Sarah Meredith, tel: 029 2067 8950; email: sarah.meredith@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk