Prevalence Of Obesity
Prevalence Of Obesity
Obesity is the condition that originates from the presence of too much fat in the body. Fat can accumulate in the human body to the level that begins to have negative effects on an individual’s health. Cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, cancer and stroke, are some of the health issues that have links with obesity. Though obesity is largely viewed as a health issue, it is also a cultural issue. Culture refers to a collection of values, practices and beliefs that define a given group of people. The collections of values may bring members of a certain race, gender, nation, neighborhood or religion together. Studies have revealed that the prevalence of obesity varies among different cultural groups. This paper has explored the cultural values that affect the issue of obesity. The paper has identified various cultural values that influence preference of obesity. These include; attitude towards body size, feeding behaviors, acculturation, traditional uses of food and understanding of health.
Cultural Values and Obesity
The problem of obesity in American has reached epidemic levels. It is estimated that close to 40% of Americans are obese (Kumanyika, 2008). Obesity occurs among members of all ethnic groups. However, the prevalence rates of obesity vary from one ethnic group to another. Studies reveal that the prevalence rate of obesity among Caucasian American is 29%, the rate for Hispanics is 34% while the prevalence rate among African Americans is 40% (Kumanyika, 2008). Studies also indicate that the obesity rates are higher among the immigrant population. Hispanic Americans tend to eat more rice and cereals. The disparity in the obesity prevalence rate among ethnic groups is largely associated with differences in food related beliefs, cultural influences and preferences. Cultural influences may result in higher than average obesity rates among individuals from certain cultures.
Body Size and Shape
One of the cultural elements that may influence the rate of obesity is the attitude towards body size and shape (Kumanyika, 2008). Different cultural and social groups have different attitudes towards body size and weight. For instance, the Caucasian Americans are relatively conscious about their body size and weight. They make a lot of effort to maintain an average weight and body size (Kumanyika, 2008). This motivates them to regulate their diets and participate in physical activities. The Hispanic Americans are less conscious about their body size and weight. People express little concern towards their body size thus making people least conscious of their diet. They also tend to associate large bodies with health. Hispanic mothers strive to make their babies large thus promoting poor eating habits during the infancy stage.
Food and Feeding Behaviors
Another cultural element that influences obesity is the preference for certain food and feeding behaviors. Cultural context determine the food and beverages that are consumed by individuals. Studies reveal that African Americans consume more fats in the diet than non-Hispanic whites (Caldwell, 2010). The study also reveals that members of this ethnic group derive most of their energy requirements from carbohydrates. High intake of carbohydrates increases the risk of obesity since the human body converts excess carbohydrates into fats. Hispanics are least likely to consume vegetable except for tomatoes. Hispanics Americans also exhibit high consumption of snacks and junk foods. The excess starch diet increases the risk for diabetes. The Native American diets also comprises of high level of fats. Alcohol consumption is also a common habit in the Native American culture. Excessive consumption of alcohol is also a risk factor for diabetes.Communities feeding habits are also translated in the children during gestation and early infancy. Women of African America origin tend to exhibit a higher level of glucose circulation during pregnancy. These women often give birth to children that have high birth weight. Studies reveal that most children who become obese at a tender age are likely to retain the obesity status throughout their lives. These differences in feeding habits among cultural groups may result in differences, in the obesity prevalence rates.
Acculturation
Acculturation refers to changes in culture as results of interaction of a cultural group with the environment and other cultural groups (Short, 2012). The US is a multicultural society. Different cultures have interacted with the environment and each other to form the American culture. Acculturation is also partly to blame for the obesity problems in American. One of the cultures that are product of acculturation is eating out especially from fast food restaurants (Short, 2012). The American fast food industry has grown significantly in the last few decades. Giant fast food chains such as McDonald have emerged. Most of these fast food establishments have specialized in offering high sugar and fat diets. Chicken, French fries and burgers, are some of the most common food items that the fast food chains sell (Short, 2012). The carbonated drinks have also become a significant part of the fast food restaurants menus. This culture has played a significant role in promoting obesity within the society.
Attitude towards the environment and physical activities
Obesity is also caused by lack of physical activity. Physical activities cause a reduction in body fats as the body breaks down this fat to release energy (Kumanyika, 2008). Thus, individuals that do not participate in physical activities are at high risk of developing obesity. The culture of physical an activity is not restricted to a distinct ethnic group, but applies to the entire American society. The American society promotes a physically inactive culture (Kumanyika, 2008). The traditions of most ethnic communities within the United States comprised of some elements of physical activities. The Hispanics were popular for the dances and ceremonies that entail a lot of physical movements. The African Americans were also strong in sporting activities. However, modernization and acculturation has caused these values to diminish. The traditional habits have been replaced with modern practices that do promote physical activities
The TV Culture
Watching TV is one of the values that have replaced the traditional activities such as dances (Padilla, 2003). Watching TV has become the most popular pass time activity in the nation. Adults and children spend most of their free time watching the television, which is a passive activity.
Video Game Culture
Video games have also changed how children within the society play. The passive video games have replaced the sporting activities that used to occupy the children’s free time. Studies reveal that an average American child spends 12 hours a week on video games (Padilla, 2003). This has significantly reduced the amount of physical activities that American Children perform.
Technology
Technology has improved the quality of people’s lives. However, it has also made people less active. Thanks to mass production of vehicles, three quarters of adult American own their personal vehicles (Padilla, 2003). Consequently, many people do not walk around frequently. Computer technologies have also reduced the need for people to move around in order to work or socialize. Computer technology has affected the level of physical activity in the country.
Social Status
Studies reveal that the rate of obesity among poor people is twofold higher than that of individuals from the top economic class (Kumanyika, 2008). Studies have issued various explanations for this observation. One of the explanations is that poor people can hardly maintain a physically active life. They do not have adequate time and resources to enable them to engage in exercises. Leisure time is very limited among the poor (Kumanyika, 2008). Thus, these people have more chances of developing obesity. On the other hand, people from the high social economic group have a lot of leisure time and thus have enhanced opportunity to participate in physical activities. In addition, rich people have the financial resources that enable them to pay for membership to fitness facilities or hire private trainers.Nutrition is also an issue for poor people. Studies have revealed that poor people have limited access to healthy food due to limited resources (Kumanyika, 2008). People from low social economic backgrounds have to depend on high calorie diets that are poor in nutrients. These individuals often purchase packaged snack foods. Most foods that the poor people can afford comprise of high content of Trans fats, which increase the risk factor for obesity.
Understanding of Health
Culture is a significant determinant of a groups understanding of health. Different cultural groups have varying beliefs concerning matters of diseases and health (Kumanyika, 2008). The Native Americans associate illnesses with spiritual issues. They believe that disease arise from spiritual rather than physiological process. Thus, they often seek spiritual intervention for illness. This belief may limit the ability of the community to understand the relationship between food, physical activities and health. Hispanics are strong Catholic followers (Kumanyika, 2008). This means that they are also likely to adopt the Christianity belief of associating diseases with spiritual matter. The religion also prohibits consumption of substances such as tobacco and alcohol, which are harmful to the body. Thus, Christian religious belief may act to promote a healthy lifestyle and thus promote health.
Similarly, different cultural groups have varying explanation of the relationship between food and health. Some cultural groups have the perception about some food having medicinal value. Others have different beliefs about various practices. These beliefs are likely to influence the behaviors of the members of the cultural groups and, thus, affecting the health status of the individuals (Kumanyika, 2008). However, increased literacy levels and awareness campaigns have enhanced the population understanding of diseases. Today, majority of the population understand the link between diet and physical activities and obesity. They also understand the health impacts that arise from obesity. This understanding has motivated many individuals to adapt health promoting behaviors.
Traditional uses and Meaning of Foods
The main purpose of foods is to provide the body with essential nutrients. Animals lack the ability to produce their own nourishment. Thus, they must take foods in order to nourish the body with all nutrients required for energy, growth and repair of body tissue. However, apart from this major purpose, food can also have other uses and meaning. In most cultural groups, food acts as unifying elements (Padilla, 2003). Communities use food as a tool for bringing people together in many contexts. In most Americans’ homes, members of the family gather every evening to have dinner. It is not common to see members of the family eating dinner at different times. Thus, dinner time does not only mean time to nourish the body, but also provides an opportunity for people to come together and share experiences.
Food is also a source of identity (Padilla, 2003). Different communities are associated with certain types of food. For instance, the Pizza is highly linked with the Italian culture. On the other hand, Asians are known for their preference for spicy foods and black pepper. These foods become an essential part of people’s identity, which serve to link people with their culture. Thus, it becomes difficult for individuals to abandon the consumption of these types of food even if study reveals that the foods are harmful to the health. For instance, it has become extremely difficult to convince the Native American to reduce consumption of alcohol since this has been an essential part of their culture.
Conclusion
Obesity is a condition that is cause by the presence of excess fats in the body. This condition is leads to adverse health problems including; cardiovascular ailments, diabetes and cancer. Obesity has become a prevalent problem in American with studies estimating that close to 40% of Americans are obese. Culture is one of the elements that scientist attributes to the prevalence of obesity in the society. This paper has evaluated the link between obesity and cultural values.
References
Caldwell E. (2010). Dietary Habits of African-Americans are Similar. November 27, 2012. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/osu-don080510.php
Kumanyika S. (2008). Environmental Influences on Childhood Obesity. Physiology & Behavior. 94: 61-70
Padilla A. (2003). Acculturation, Social Identity and Social Cognition. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 25 (1): 35- 55
Short S. (2012). Dynamic Relations between Fast Food Restaurant and Body Weight Status. Journal of Epidemol Community Health
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