From traditional diet to Western lifestyle: how migration reshapes health

When people move to Sweden and other Western countries, daily life changes on many levels, including work, social networks, language and routines. One of the most powerful but least visible shifts happens on the plate. A growing body of research shows that migration is often followed by a nutritional transition, from fibre-rich, home-cooked food towards a more sugar and fat-dense Western diet, with clear consequences for long-term health.

Before migration: fibre-rich, home-cooked food

In many countries of origin, everyday meals are built around legumes, vegetables, whole grains and minimally processed ingredients. Food is cooked from scratch, shared in large families and often follows cultural or religious patterns that naturally limit certain products or overeating. Several Nordic studies show that newly arrived migrants often report higher fruit and vegetable intake and less processed meat than native populations at the time of arrival. The starting point is therefore not an unhealthy culture, but in many cases a diet that protects against lifestyle-related disease.

After migration: fast, cheap and energy-dense

Once in Sweden, many migrants gradually shift towards a Westernised eating pattern. This typically means more sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food, snacks and semi-prepared meals, and fewer traditional staples like pulses and whole grains. A recent review of migrant populations found a 15 to 20 percent increase in consumption of energy-dense, processed foods and a 10 to 15 percent decrease in traditional staples after migration, a shift linked to higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Swedish and regional studies, including the MEDIM study and data from Skåne, show significantly higher diabetes prevalence among migrants than among Swedish-born residents, partly explained by weight gain and physical inactivity after arrival. Everyday life also changes through more sedentary work, less incidental movement, time pressure and economic stress, which makes quick, cheap calories attractive.

Health impact: chronic disease and allergy

The combination of a more energy-dense diet and less physical activity raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, especially after five or more years in Sweden. Several Scandinavian studies indicate that migrants from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia have roughly double the prevalence of type 2 diabetes compared with native populations in the same cities. At the same time, allergy and asthma patterns change. A large review of migrant allergy studies shows that immigrants often have lower allergy prevalence on arrival, but that the risk increases the longer they live in the destination country. After around five to ten years, sensitisation to common Nordic allergens such as birch pollen becomes more similar to Swedish-born levels. The result is a double burden with higher risk of lifestyle-related chronic diseases and an allergy profile that gradually converges with the host population.

Why these changes happen

Research points to a mix of structural and social drivers. Access and price matter, since healthy traditional ingredients can be harder to find or more expensive, while fast food, sweets and soft drinks are cheap and ubiquitous in many low-income neighbourhoods. Time and routines also shift, as new work schedules, commuting and language classes leave less time for slow home-cooking. Social adaptation plays a role because children and teenagers are heavily influenced by school environments, friends and advertising, and often push households towards more Western products. These patterns are not about bad individual choices, but about how a new environment combined with structural barriers slowly reshapes what ends up on the table.

What this means for brands, healthcare and policy

For public health, there is a window of opportunity in the first years after migration to support and preserve the protective parts of traditional diets, while making healthy options affordable and available. For brands and organisations, this means there is a need for culturally relevant health communication that speaks to real eating habits rather than stereotypes. Products, services and campaigns around food, health and wellness need to consider both the economic realities and the cultural reference points of households with foreign backgrounds. Partnerships with community actors, from local stores to faith communities and media channels, are crucial to reach families where decisions about food are actually made.