Feeding/Eating Disorder

Why Some Cultural/Ethnic Groups Disproportionately Affected by Obesity

Some racial and ethnic groups are more affected by obesity than others. For instance, just 33% of White women are obese, as opposed to almost 50% of African American women (Asamane et al., 2019). Some of the reported racial/ethnic disparities regarding obesity are explained by personal attributes like money and education, but substantial inequalities still exist even when a great deal of personal information is held constant. According to a recent study, factors at the community level, including the accessibility and affordability of parks, sidewalks, and entertainment venues as well as the variety and prices of food, are connected to obesity independently of personal traits.

Some communities are also disproportionately affected by obesity due to their social expectations. Different ethnic groups may have quite different social expectations about physical appearance. For instance, non-Hispanic Black women’s perceptions of the ideal body size are greater than those of non-Hispanic, White women, whereas non-Hispanic White women account being unsatisfied about their physical appearances at substantially less BMIs than non-Hispanic Black women (Michos, 2021). More so than non-Hispanic White men, non-Hispanic Black males claim to want greater physical sizes in their female relationships. Given that there are disparities across racial and ethnic groupings in terms of the prevalence of obesity and dietary norms, as well as the country’s high levels of racial and ethnic segregation, it is conceivable that local communities might establish their standards for body weight. As a result, unrelated to an individual’s qualities, racial/ethnic mix at the community level and the likelihood of developing obesity may be linked.

My Culture and Three Actions that can be Taken to Address Obesity in My Culture

In my culture, children have higher rates of developing obesity in early life. For efforts that aim to avoid obesity during childhood in children of color, the early years appear to hold the most promise. Childhood is a formative period for habits and tastes, therefore it’s important to instill a range of food preferences in youngsters as well as encourage vigorous play, the development of motor skills, and sound sleeping patterns (Annan, 2019). By talking about prenatal risk factors that are known to be more common in my culture, physicians specifically can play a vital role in avoiding and managing childhood obesity. The best prenatal weight growth and quitting smoking are two things that clinicians should encourage and discuss with expectant women. The popular misconception that a plump baby is a healthier baby should be disproved by doctors during infancy and childhood. They ought to look for early symptoms of excess growth in weight-for-length or BMI in children. In addition, they ought to promote a healthy lifestyle by limiting the consumption of sweetened beverages, cutting back on television, increasing physical activity, and eating well. Children who are at high risk of developing obesity can benefit from early education and therapy, which can also play a secondary preventative role in preventing the development of the disease.

There is a suggested food consumption in my culture to avoid obesity. The first step is for people to eat less caloric foods. This entails consuming little or no sugar whatsoever, less snacks, smaller amounts, less alcoholic beverages, and no alcohol. Substantially lowering carb intake can also help people of my culture lose weight. Besides, long-term lifestyle changes are also essential for people (Michos et al., 2021). With developments in culture and routine activities, obesity is a condition that has become more prevalent. A precise diet plan that includes healthy meals and the right amount of fluid intake is required to minimize obesity. Extra veggies, dairy products, fruits, meat, potatoes, and moderate quantities of liquids should be a part of the diet that is advised.

People also need to exercise for at least two hours a day. One must exercise enough that the whole body is worked out. It is preferable to lift weights and exercise on different days if one enjoys working out at the gym because it is less harmful to the joints. Individuals should also engage in activities that keep them busy and sleep enough (Asamane et al., 2019). Six to eight hours of sleep is needed. Stress can increase the chances of obesity. So, people need to keep life simple and happy. With the increasing rate of obesity, my community needs to design strategies and efforts to deal with obesity in the nation by involving different stakeholders including educators, policymakers, individual citizens, and health providers.

References

Annan, K. (2019). CONCEPTUAL FOCUS. Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing E-Book: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems, Single Volume, 17. Missouri: Elsevier.

Asamane, E. A., Greig, C. A., Aunger, J. A., & Thompson, J. L. (2019). Perceptions and factors influencing eating Behaviours and physical function in community-dwelling ethnically diverse older adults: a longitudinal qualitative study. Nutrients, 11(6), 1224. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11061224

Michos, E. D., Reddy, T. K., Gulati, M., Brewer, L. C., Bond, R. M., Velarde, G. P., … & Ferdinand, K. C. (2021). Improving the enrollment of women and racially/ethnically diverse populations in cardiovascular clinical trials: An ASPC practice statement. American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2021.100250