The Role of Culture and Lifestyle in Analysing Conditions of Obesity and Malnutrition
Introduction
Obesity being a cause for major health uncertainties is impacted by a number of factors
(Korre, et al, 2018). Factors like excessive food consumption, irregular diet or even mental
condition can play a major role over defining the obesity of a person (Salehi, 2020).
However, as an addition, a major question is identified for whether, culture and lifestyle have
an impact over obesity and malnutrition? Based on the key implications involved with this
topic, researching the relationship between culture and obesity can be of great significance, as
with the help of defining an efficient and healthy culture, the current condition of obesity can
be controlled and minimized.
The main aim of this study is to carry out extensive research which can be vital for answering
the identified research question. For fulfilling the aim of the research, a discussion over
literature with varied perspectives, ideologies and theoretical implications will be carried out,
and based on the discussion, at the end the topic will be concluded.
Discussion of Literature
Chooi, et al, (2019), describe obesity as a multifactorial disease which is impacted by a
number of elements. Obesity basically involves excessive amounts of fats which can act as a
driver for further medical problems like occurrence of heart disease, increased cholesterol,
diabetes, high blood pressure, and in some instances, obesity can even lead an individual
towards cancer. Chooi, et al, (2019), further add in their research by declaring that unlike
many other diseases which are low in frequency, obesity is scattered all across the planet and
nearly every third person in developed nations like the US and the UK is a victim of obesity.
Along with obesity, another factor which can be referred internationally is culture.
Considering globalization and the modern application of culture, Calvelli, and Cannavale
(2019), define this element as, the set of rules or regulations which are learned by shared
experiences within a community. According to these two researchers, based on the shared
experiences of a community, shared values and shared patterns of developing a lifestyle is
approached. These shared values and shared patterns primarily define the culture of a
community. Calvelli, and Cannavale (2019), declared that, based on the current situation of
globalization and internationalization, people with different values, moral principles and
culture tend to live in a same community. Due to easy international travel and trade among
different nations, currently, communities with culturally diverse populations are increasing.
Based on the key elements involved with obesity and culture, Yates-Doerr (2018), declares
that culture acts as an independent variable and lends a great impact over the condition of
obesity within a community. According to the researcher, obesity depends on the culture and
the lifestyle of a community. Yates-Doerr (2018), declares that his claim can be made evident
from the number of obese people in the first world countries compared to the rate of obesity
in the second and the third world nations. As the lifestyle and the culture in the first world
countries is highly paced, the prominent diet involves takeaways based on fast food.
Currently, fast food acts as a malnutrition diet as it excessively increases fats and the
cholesterol levels. Yates-Doerr (2018), claims that as, the lifestyle and culture in the first
world countries is highly paced, the excessive consumption of fast food is a key reason for
increased cases of obesity. Hedegaard (2016), completely agrees with the claims of YatesDoerr as while narrating the case the of obesity in Europe, Hedegaard (2016), identified that
obesity is very high in the continent compared to Africa and Asia, and one of the key reasons
for high ratio of obesity in Europe is excessive fast food consumption. As the culture and the
lifestyle in Europe approves the idea of productivity and constant progression, the fast-paced
work environment in the continent acts as a major driver for malnutrition in the nations, in
the shape of excessive consumption of fast food.
Moreover, Fair, et al, (2018), agree with the fact that culture and lifestyle influence obesity,
however compared to the two researches mentioned above, Fair, et al, (2018), have a highly
distinguished perception over the topic. According to their research, culture as a major factor
impacts the condition of obesity based on two criterion or environment, i.e. individualism and
collectivism. Based on the Hofstede model, Fair, et al, (2018), declares these two cultural
dimensions to be highly relatable with the condition of obesity. In a collectivism-based
environment, a lifestyle where people help, live and work with each other is created. In such
a lifestyle, families have developed responsibilities among the members like who should
cook and who should earn (Tovar, and Must, 2019). Based on these responsibilities, families
are indulged with eating home-made food which is vital for fulling the nutritious demands
and for minimizing obesity.
As a continuation, Opalinski, et al, (2017), discuss the other side of the perspective as they
believe that unlike collectivism, individualism acts as a key driver for increasing obesity. As
individualism is based on boosting and enhancing an individual’s potential, this factor
massively influences and increases the cases of obesity in a country. For an individual,
managing professional and private life all by themselves can be a major challenge. As a
solution to this challenge, many individuals within a community tend to take shortcuts
(Osipov, et al, 2017). As a diet-based shortcut, fast food and food made in restaurants is
preferred in an individualism-based culture, which highly stretches the consumption of
malnutrition in the community and also increases the cases of obesity.
Conclusion
Based on the key factors identified in the discussion on the present literature in the topic, it
can be declared that culture and lifestyle have indirect impact on the condition of obesity and
consumption of malnutrition. Diet and type of food being consumed, directly influences
obesity, however based on the key findings of the literature, diet of people depends on the
culture and the lifestyle of a community. Factors like fast paced work environment, and
cultural dimensions like individualism and collectivism impact obesity. Furthermore, as a key
limitation in the research, there was lack in availability of data which directly compared
culture with the condition of obesity, hence as an alternative, factors like diet and
environment of a community were used to link the key elements involved with the topic.
References
Calvelli, A. and Cannavale, C., 2019. The Role of Culture in Internationalization. In
Internationalizing Firms (pp. 165-225). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Chooi, Y.C., Ding, C. and Magkos, F., 2019. The epidemiology of obesity. Metabolism, 92,
pp.6-10.
Fair, K.N., Solari Williams, K.D., Warren, J., McKyer, E.L.J. and Ory, M.G., 2018. The
influence of organizational culture on school‐based obesity prevention interventions:
A systematic review of the literature. Journal of School Health, 88(6), pp.462-473.
Hedegaard, L., 2016. Food culture in obesity prevention Europe. The European Journal of
Public Health, 26(4), pp.536-537.
Korre, M., Smith, D. and Kales, S.N., 2018. Obesity and health in the North American Fire
Service: research points the way to positive culture change.
Osipov, A.Y., Kudryavtsev, M.D., Gruzinky, V.I., Kramida, I.E. and Iermakov, S.S., 2017.
Means of optimal body mass control and obesity prophylaxis among students.
Physical education of students, 21(1), pp.40-45.
Salehi, Z., 2020. Cultural factors related to the obesity epidemic. In Obesity (pp. 141-154).
Elsevier.
Tovar, A. and Must, A., 2019. 41 Influence of Culture on Obesity. Handbook of Obesity,
Two-Volume Set, p.453.
Yates-Doerr, E., 2018. Translational competency On the role of culture in obesity
interventions. health policy.