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Chapter 9 of 9·4 min left in book

Chapter 9

Sources

This guide uses African-diaspora research for cultural context, general nutrition and portion research for eating-pattern principles, GLP-1 literature for treatment support, and official food tables for nutrient comparisons. These evidence streams answer different questions and should not be treated as interchangeable.

African immigrants, food, and life in the United States

  1. Zheng L, et al. Sub-Saharan African Immigrants Living in the United States Maintain Healthy Diets Despite Dietary Acculturation: A Scoping Review. 2025. PubMed. The broadest current U.S. synthesis; 31 studies were included, but only 10 were quantitative. Heterogeneity limits broad conclusions.
  2. Adeyemi-Benson OS, et al. Assessment of Dietary Behaviors Among West African Immigrants in Relation to Acculturation Level and Length of Time in the U.S. 2026. PubMed. Current West African immigrant data from Chicago; cross-sectional associations cannot establish cause.
  3. Horlyck-Romanovsky MF, et al. Intergenerational differences in dietary acculturation among Ghanaian immigrants living in New York City: a qualitative study. 2021. PubMed · PMC. Useful detail about schedules, generations, food choice, and household change; qualitative findings are not prevalence estimates.
  4. Akingbule O, et al. Exploring the dietary practices and perceptions of African immigrants in Illinois—a qualitative study of immigrants from Nigeria and Congo. 2024. PubMed. Culturally relevant lived context from two groups; not representative of all African immigrants.
  5. Byiringiro S, et al. Migration-Related Weight Changes among African Immigrants in the United States. 2022. PubMed · PMC. Observational, partly self-reported evidence; supports inquiry, not an inevitable migration effect.
  6. Commodore-Mensah Y, et al. The Association Between Acculturation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Ghanaian and Nigerian-born African Immigrants in the United States: The Afro-Cardiac Study. 2018. PubMed. Cross-sectional association; no causal conclusion.
  7. Brown AGM, et al. Qualitative exploration of cultural factors influencing diet among African-, Caribbean- and US-born Blacks living in the northeast USA. 2019. PubMed · PMC. Supports culturally responsive care; the population groups remain distinct.
  8. Moore SG, et al. Feasibility of a Community Healthy Eating and Cooking Intervention Featuring Traditional African Caribbean Foods. 2023. PubMed · PMC. Feasibility and acceptability, not proof of weight-loss efficacy.

Dietary patterns and portions

  1. Segun A, et al. Exploring the relationship between dietary patterns and obesity among Nigerian adults: a cross-sectional study. 2024. PubMed · PMC. Different dietary-pattern associations; does not prove that an individual food causes or prevents obesity.
  2. Higgins KA, et al. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effect of Portion Size and Ingestive Frequency on Energy Intake and Body Weight among Adults in Randomized Controlled Feeding Trials. 2022. PubMed · PMC. Controlled evidence about portion effects; not specific to African foods.
  3. Kelly MT, et al. Increased portion size leads to a sustained increase in energy intake over four days in normal-weight and overweight men and women. 2009. PubMed. Short controlled trial used for mechanism, not a long-term weight-loss promise.
  4. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Factors Affecting Weight and Health. NIDDK. Public-facing overview of the multiple influences on weight and health.

GLP-1 nutrition, lean mass, and individualized care

  1. Mozaffarian D, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: A joint Advisory from four professional organizations. 2025. PubMed · PMC. Multidisciplinary guidance on food quality, protein, resistance activity, and monitoring; much supporting evidence is indirect.
  2. Spreckley M, et al. Nutrition Strategies for Next-Generation Incretin Therapies: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Current Evidence. 2026. PubMed · PMC. Finds a sparse evidence base for an optimal nutrition strategy.
  3. Look M, et al. Body composition changes during weight reduction with tirzepatide in the SURMOUNT-1 study of adults with obesity or overweight. 2025. PubMed · PMC. Small DXA substudy with sponsor involvement; body composition, not a protein intervention.
  4. Lundgren JR, et al. Healthy Weight Loss Maintenance with Exercise, Liraglutide, or Both Combined. 2021. PubMed. Randomized trial after diet-induced weight loss; does not establish one exercise or medication plan for everyone.
  5. Wharton S, et al. Obesity in adults: a clinical practice guideline. 2020. PubMed · PMC. Chronic-disease and individualized-care framework.
  6. Almandoz JP, et al. Nutritional considerations with antiobesity medications. 2024. PubMed. Narrative review with practical guidance; not definitive comparative trial evidence.

Food composition

  1. FAO/INFOODS. Food Composition Table for Western Africa, 2019. FAO Africa tables and databases. Values are tied to defined foods and states and are generally reported per 100 g edible portion. Some values are estimated or imputed.
  2. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central. USDA. Appropriate for defined U.S. foods and equivalents; package labels remain necessary for named commercial products.