The South Asian/Indian Diet presented by Fathima Abdoola, APD
Fatima combines her professional expertise with lived experience to explain the diversity within South Asian communities, highlighting the influence of migration, religion, language, and family structure on dietary practices and health behaviours.
She outlines the significant cardiometabolic risks faced by South Asians—including high rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease—and explains how genetics, visceral adiposity, physical inactivity, and rapidly changing food environments contribute to this burden.
Fathima describes staple foods, cooking methods, nutrient strengths and gaps, and culturally specific barriers to dietary change. She offers realistic, culturally sensitive counselling strategies, emphasising food-first approaches, recipe modification rather than replacement, and the importance of involving family members in care.
Learn about:
- Understanding culture improves clinical outcomes — South Asian dietary practices are deeply shaped by religion, family roles, migration and tradition; integrating these respectfully increases trust, engagement and adherence.
- The South Asian health profile requires tailored intervention — Higher risk of diabetes, CVD, vitamin D and iron deficiency, and unique dietary patterns (high refined carbs, lower protein) require specific, culturally appropriate strategies.
- Effective counselling focuses on modification, not replacement — Practical swaps, adjusting cooking methods, involving family, and working within religious and cultural norms are essential to creating sustainable dietary change.