Obesity and its Risk Factors Among African Migrant Adolescents: Assessing the Role of Intergenerational Acculturation Gap, Family Functioning and Parenting

African migrants constitute a fast-growing, culturally and linguistically diverse subpopulation in Australia. The 2006 census data suggest that there are more than 210,000 African migrants living in Australia, 24% of whom live in Victoria. In Victoria, African migrants are concentrated in the Greater Dandenong, Western Region, and Northern Region, and small numbers in regional areas such as Shepparton and Swan Hill. On arrival in Australia, they are at increased risk of obesity and chronic diseases and this risk has strong cultural roots, accentuated by poor health literacy and intergenerational discrepancies in acculturation between parents and children. However, there are other factors related to the family functioning and parenting styles that predispose African migrants to obesity and chronic diseases, but these factors are poorly documented. This pilot study sought to develop and trial a framework for engaging with African communities, and to document and describe elements of family functioning, parenting style, acculturation that predispose African young people to obesity.