At LewerMark, because we handle insurance for international students, the beginning of the school year is the time we start to see an increase in insurance claims. Some of these first claims will often involve students suffering from gastrointestinal complaints.
One of the biggest adjustments international students have to make when studying in the U.S. is dietary changes. Many students will have gastrointestinal issues after switching from their country’s food to an American culture diet, which is typically higher in fat and sugar. While colleges cannot determine what an individual student can or cannot eat, there are ways to expand the choices for international students so the change doesn’t have to be so abrupt.
For LewerMark, one of the worst cases we have seen occurred when a student from Southeast Asia was diagnosed with acute gastritis after her first week of school. She was initially treated for constipation, but after time, she developed liver problems, sepsis, and pancreatitis. The student was enrolled for one year and four months before returning to her home country. While this is an extreme example, almost all international students will experience some degree of dietary changes.
Because the western culture diet is higher in fat and sugar, these changes can be responsible for health consequences such as weight gain (most common), increased blood glucose levels, increased cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and even mental health problems.
I looked at a few sample menus at different universities, some of the menu choices are:
Fajita bar Deli Bar Fish and chips Grilled cheese
Philly Cheesesteak Cheeseburger Cheese quesadilla Mac and cheese
Pasta Desserts like brownies, cookies, & cake Soda
Typical Asian diets revolve around rice, chicken or fish, a wide variety of vegetables, broth-based soups and nuts. These choices don’t usually match what is on the dorm menus of most US colleges.
A study in the Journal of International Students – The Factors That Influence Dietary Habits Among International Students in the United States – showed that there are several changes to dietary habits such as: skipping breakfast, eating fewer fruits and vegetables, and convenience food consumption. It is important to note these are universal among college-age students and are not specific to international or domestic students. However…
International students face several unique dietary challenges such as: the limitation in the food availability and access; and consequences of dietary habit changes specifically related to international students’ dietary habits as a result of adapting to the U.S. culture. There are several factors that may contribute to these changes, including campus environment, individual preferences, and food environment (the place where food is obtained, food prices, community characteristics, restaurant proximity, and store availability). Knowledge of food practices and preferences of international students from various ethnic groups is necessary to provide effective nutrition education to an increasingly diverse population.
This same study offered these suggestions for universities to facilitate a healthy food environment that is culturally appropriate for international students:
Implementing new dietary programs and practices would be beneficial for both the university and the student body. The university will attract more international students and thus increase its diversity. Plus, both the American students and the international students could benefit from these changes. In the meantime, we can encourage students to seek out new restaurants, grocery stores, and try to make the healthiest decisions they can when it comes to what they eat. In the meantime, we can encourage students to seek out new restaurants, grocery stores, and try to make the healthiest decisions they can when it comes to what they eat.