Diet, growth and cultural food habits in Chinese-American infants

Abstract

This study was composed of one hundred Chinese-American mothers and infants in the Chinatown district of San Francisco. The mothers were interviewed with regard to infants' dietary intakes and past dietary patterns, infant health, maternal pre-natal history and diet, cultural habits, and socio-economic status. Infants' growth patterns were recorded and compared to those of American and Chinese babies. Their growth patterns were noted to be dissimilar to both American and Chinese growth patterns, but to be very similar to infant growth patterns in underdeveloped countries. The cultural influences on the dietary intakes were commented upon.