United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Introduction
Obesity in United States has increased significantly over past three to four decades. Obesity is prevailing in the country and leading huge population to various health problems. More than 65 percent American adults are obese. America is a diversified country with presence of multiple cultures, race and ethnic groups. Culture impacts life style and eating habits of individuals in a great manner. In America it was observed that rate of obesity is not same across all different ethnic groups which generate a need to understand how culture or ethnicity impacts the weight of a person due to eating habits and selection of food.
Thesis Statement: This paper intends to discuss how different cultural factors impact the selection of food items consumed by the family and further lead to obesity.
Summary of the Artifacts
The family photograph selected to conduct the research on the subject is Revis family of North Carolina. Visual selected for the assignment clearly shows all family members of Revis family and food items they consume in a week. The purpose of the photograph is to display different types of food items consumed by the family in a week with an approximate idea about quantity of food items. According to the photograph, Revis family has four family members i.e. mother, father and two sons, and all seems to be a little overweight.
The picture clearly reflects that all family member of Revis family like junk food a lot. Pizza, processed food, soda, sugar juices, fried snacks, cold drinks, seems an important part of their diet. One interesting fact that is clearly visible in the picture that family consume very less or minimum amount of vegetables and fibers in their diet. All foods shown in the picture facilitate weight gain and expose the body to various health risks.
Different cultures certainly generate various health risks, and its role in the diet is clearly visible. The picture of Revs family is a true reflection of American food that include a large percentage of unhealthy junk and processed food. Through the America food habits changes due to change in income level, people knowledge and preference of healthy food and exercise habits. The culture in which person grow develops test towards certain food items. For example, if elder family members of a family like to have heavy cheese burger on the daily basis then there are higher chances that their kids will also like heavy cheese burger.
According to national data and some research studies 82 % black women and around 77 percent Hispanic women are obese as compare to 63 percent white women. This data is also showing how people from three different ethnicities has different weight profile. In men, obesity is lesser as compare to women, but impact of culture is significant. Among men rates of obesity is higher for Hispanic men (around 79 percent) and in black men the percentage is 70 (Ogdenet al., 2014).
Obesity in America is rising, and there are various factors responsible for this problem. Hectic lifestyle and preference towards unhealthy food is one factor that is also driven by the belief of family. According to Dindyal (2003) culture plays an important role in creating values, developing traditions and person view other things. All people across the world co-exist together but have distinct habits and preferences. However, people require adapting various thing including food in order to get adjusted in different cultures. Immigrants who have to survive in a different culture require adapting local food items of a different culture. People need to change their preferences towards food (Dindyal, 2003).
Acceptance and adjustment towards variety of food is the basic nature of human as they want to taste different flavors in order to get something testy. However, this habit may not necessarily take them to good and healthy food. It is important for people to understand what choice they are making and what food they are eating. Junk and unhealthy food not only disturb health but also cost too much on the pocket. Junk and processed food items are costly as compare to vegetables and fruits. Revis family spends more than $340 every week on purchasing unhealthy junk food. This food not only increase the food budget of the family but also medical budget.
Culture in which individual live and grown up develop attitude towards different types of food. Social pressure also plays a major role in a selection of food items and impacting overall eating habits of the person. According a study obese people tends to have obese friends and their food choice not reflect the choice of one person but the choice of group. Presence of diversified cultures and groups encourage the consumption of junk food.
Food no doubt bind people of one culture together and shows their eating habits. However, it depends upon individual to carefully select right and healthy items. Culture only inform people about the traditional dishes and how those food items should be consumed on special occasions. Culture does not encourage people to select only unhealthy items, but it inform people about the traditional and healthy mix of the food. Food items preferred by the Revis family reflect poor choice made by the family members in the form of unhealthy food items.
Airhihenhuwa et al. (2010) in their research study mentioned that the diet related deceases are very common among African-American people, and there is the need for a diet change in this ethnic group. The study was conducted on 53 African-American people. Respondents clearly stated that they cannot establish a link between eating habits and African origin, but they were certain about the influence of slavery & economic disadvantage. Respondents also mentioned that their present eating habits are free from an influence of economic status, but influenced by external social conditions (Airhihenbuwa et al., 1996).
Conclusion
Having observed an overview and analysis of the above-mentioned subject, the paper concludes that an obesity has emerged as one of the biggest heath related issues in America. Unhealthy food habits, as well as irregular day, to day activities have made the majority of Americans obese, and the trend continues. Due to excessive consumption of foods, United States of America have become one of the most obese nations of the world. Obesity does not affect any particular group, but it has affected people of every group in the same manner. African Americans, Hispanic, Latinos and rest others are affected from the obesity in the same manner. The Revis family from North Carolina is just a glimpse of a bigger and deeper situation that is going to affect the majority of Americans in a near future.
References
Airhihenbuwa, C.O., Kumanyika, S., Agurs, T.D., Lowe, A., Saunderse, D., & Morssink, C.B. (1996). Cultural aspects of African American eating patterns. Ethnicity & Health, 1(3), 245-260.
C. L., Ogden, Carroll, M. D., Kit, B.K., & Flegal K. M. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 311(8), 806-814.
Dindyal, S. (2003). How Personal Factors, Including Culture And Ethnicity, Affect The Choices And Selection Of Food We Make . The Internet Journal of Third World Medicine, 1(2).
