Obesity in American Culture as a Public Health Problem - Literature review Example

Obesity in American Culture INTRODUCTION Obesity in the United s is widespread and not only rampant in select social or ethnic groups. Obesity is a talent amongst all ethnic groups, genders, and ages. At the same time, social class or groups are pivotal factors when researching or analyzing obesity as an epidemic. Individual researchers and health groups have conducted numerous studies to determine the causal nature of obesity in the United States from a gender, ethnic group, and age point of view. Data from these research works reveal the broad range of chronic illnesses that accompany obesity such as hypertension, stroke, and diabetes. The occurrence of these illnesses in different genders, races, and ages is a considerable when studying the culture behind or brought about by obesity. To what extent is obesity a causal factor or product of American culture? OBESITY IN AMERICAN CULTURE Individualism is a major American principle that emphasizes self-sufficiency, personal freedom, and independence. This principle is contrary to societal authority, which overwhelms the individual and is against Collectivism. Collectivism emphasizes the significance of the group, thereby making individual needs less important to the group (Puhl and Heuer 1021). Under individualism, there is Attribution Bias that accounts for adverse events like obesity. Attribution Bias echoes internal reasons, which is essentially the notion that one only gets what he or she deserves instead of situational reasons. The National School Lunch Program resist this principle to justify its policies on offering frozen vegetables compared to offering phones with a lot of protein, carbohydrates, and sugars. Studies conducted on the implication of these policies reveal that people consume food mostly when it is available (Schwartz 61). The amount of this food and its nutritional value is of little concern in contrast to its availability. Clearly, overconsumption is controlled potentially by shifting cultures concerning self-determination and moderation. Culture is an extremely influential factor in people’s health and weights. Culture is conveyed when an individual interacts with another individual or the members of a family or social group. These individuals have significant sway on a person’s principles and accepted customs. This correlation means that if 66% of Americans are either overweight or obese, the remainder 33% easily accept it culturally (Katz 2012). Cultural moderation of standards of individual discipline and the negligence for a healthy way of living adds to this quick national rise in obesity. Food is essential to communal or familial roles and refusing to consume large quantities of food is thought of as impolite or antisocial in many ethnic groups in America. As the obesity epidemic in the United States spreads, the communal perception of the obese and overweight is that they are chubby or plump instead of obese. When the community sees an obese individual as anything other than obese or overweight, he or she will not alter his or her eating habits (Schwartz 61). The level of influence that food companies have over Americans’ consumption rates is a crucial factor in studying obesity as a culture. American fast food organizations such as McDonald’s or Burger King have stated that they merely respond to consumer demands and consider frame regulations and extension of a “Big Brother” government (Puhl and Heuer 1026). In effect, the same firms argue that they cannot be held liable for the rampant nature of obesity or the culture in support of it. Among these companies’ responses to consumer demands is advertising, which many Americans are unaware of its influence on their eating habits. The advertising of fast food product by these companies is influential to the extent that even obesity clinicians and research specialists exhibit an intense weight subjectivity (Schwartz 61). When obesity clinicians and practitioners are subjective towards obese patients, then the influence of advertising and effects of obesity is clearly seriously problematic. The difficulty of obesity’s causes, advertising influence, and poor educational tool concepts concerning dietary balances and control make individual accountability very hard for Americans (Brownell, Kersh, Ludwig, Post, Puhl, Schwartz, and Willett 381). When local authorities, food companies, and even schools are part of the culture that exacerbates obesity in America, individual responsibility will most likely not take off as required. For example, Connecticut lawmakers tried to ban sugar beverages from being sold in schools in 2006. Soda companies responded with a declaration of their role in this problem as a solution. This solution was a collaboration with the Ad Council that involved emphasizing the need to exercise, mentoring, and learn about energy balances. Unfortunately, the solution did not entail teaching children ways to consume fewer amounts of foods with surplus quantities of calories and sugar. This solution does not highlight individual responsibility over personal health and restraint. As a result, the solution propagates the possibly already established culture of gorging sugary and fatty foods (Brownell, Kersh, Ludwig, Post, Puhl, Schwartz, and Willett 383). An imbalance between work and personal life is part of American culture that aggravates obesity as an epidemic. A survey conducted in 2013 by OECD known as the Better Life Index, Americans were number 28 among the most developed nations with a proper balance between personal and professional lives. Study findings point out that obesity is a product of this imbalance between personal and professional lives amongst Americans. The survey reports stated that Americans are overworked and strained at work more than the average worker was four or five decades ago (Puhl and Heuer 1024). This strain arises from the increasingly demanding employers who compel the year staff members to get insufficient exercise or rest and cultivate the personal lives. An imbalanced personal and professional life ultimately result in inadequate sleep, which indirectly contributes to the increased storage of excess fats in the body rather than burning them through rigorous physical and psychological activity. Recent study findings have found a correlation between increased desires for food and insufficient sleep amongst American workers. The same findings also discovered that inadequate sleep promotes appetites for unhealthy foods such as fast foods and sugar beverages (Katz 2012). Researcher Phelan says obesity in America is a public health problem that treatment of the community rather than the individual is the best way of addressing it. This treatment involves tackling the three factors of obesity as a pandemic. Phelan thinks these factors are the functions of calories in the human body, the absence of exercise, and the lack of realistic goals for reducing weight (Phelan 523). Emphasizing these three factors while treating patients with obesity should begin altering the culture of losing weight only to fit into certain clothing or social groups. Obese patients should note that shift in the dietary behavior enhances health and is not a penalty for a lack of moderation in excessive food consumption (Phelan 524). The nutritional approach that a patient undertakes is not as serious as his or her capacity to restrain refrain from consuming food whenever it is available. As a result, a culture of individual responsibility for a person’s weight and health begins cultivating (Brownell, Kersh, Ludwig, Post, Puhl, Schwartz, and Willett 386). Researchers Lóp et al. suggests several ways alter the American culture of propagating seamless consumption of food whenever available. Health experts comprising of primary care clinicians and pharmacologists should be trained to remind their patients and customers of the importance of weight control during every appointment or visitation (Lóp, et al., 544). Essentially, health experts should call the necessity to be aware of and strive to meet the standard the BMI (Body Mass Index) weight scales amongst individuals of all ages, ethnic groups, and genders. Health educators should also know that categorizing people by their weight might be important for them to receive personalized education information and interventions sufficiently (Lóp, et al., 549). CONCLUSION Obesity is both a causal factor and product of American culture to an overbearing extent. Foods with excessive calories and sugars are available, ubiquitous, and very affordable. Individualism and Attribution Bias are key principles of American culture that influence their eating habits. Food companies significantly influence Americans’ consumption of food through advertising. An imbalance between work and personal life that aggravates obesity exists in American culture. Obesity in America is a public health problem that treatment of both the individual and community is most appropriate. Health experts, clinicians, and educators should remind patients and the community of the importance of weight control during every appointment or visitation. Works Cited Brownell, Kelly D., Rogan Kersh, David S. Ludwig, Robert C. Post, Rebecca M. Puhl, Marlene B. Schwartz, and Walter C. Willett. Personal Responsibility And Obesity: A Constructive Approach To A Controversial Issue. Health Affairs 29.3 (2010): 379-387. Katz, David L. Is Obesity Cultural? 2012. US News: Health. Web. 6 May. 2015. Lóp, Ivette, A., et al. "Obesity Literacy And Culture Among African American Women In Florida." American Journal Of Health Behavior 38.4 (2014): 541-552. Phelan, Sharon. “Obesity in the American population: calories, cost, and culture.” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 203.6 (2010): 522-524. Puhl, Rebecca M. and Chelsea A. Heuer. “Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health.” American Journal of Public Health 100.6 (2010): 1019-1028. Schwartz, Marlene. Presentations From the Treatment of Obesity Conference, July 2006: Obesity in the Context of American Culture. Medscape General Medicine 8.4 (2006): 61. Read More