Integrative Review The number of obese and overweight individuals throughout the world is rapidly growing. There are many factors that come into play when thinking why obesity has become such an epidemic lately. There is has been little research done in recent years about what factors are directly linked to one becoming obese. The purpose of this integrative review is to investigate recent literature on the socioeconomic factors that influence obesity in a community. This review will explain the research strategy utilized in obtaining articles that were relevant in looking at socioeconomic factors that influence obesity such as income, eduction level, resources available, and environment. The research process began on EBSCOhost. Some …show more content…
The purpose of this study was to look at prevous studies and see the association of SES and eating patterns in low or middle income countries (MIC). The study consisted of 33 articles, of those 33, 17 were conducted in low or midle income countries, four included elderly, seven included women, and one included men. The majority of the studies were done between the year 2001 and 2010. Of the 33 studies, nine used more than one SES indicator. The systematic review reveled that this was the first systematic review to look at this area of intrest closly. They reveled that socioeconomic factors and geograpgical location have a large impact on ones dietary patterns, intake and quanuty of food consumed. Individuals living in a low income country with a high SES consumed a healther diet. With that being said, individuals living in MIC with a high SES were liked to unhealthy diet patterns. One very positive attribute is that this study produced a level one in terms of research evidence (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). Despite the many limitations in this study such as there being no data on low income countries in terms of nutrients, it still provided good data from previous studes which allowed one to see exactly how much research has been done on this
This is the exact dilemma many families, who simply don’t have the money or knowledge run into. The research from the Journal of Youth and Adolescence discusses the rising obesity rates within poor, minority based communities. The article, agrees with this argument from Food Inc. by stating that “The prevalence of obesity is significantly higher in poor communities than in affluent communities; and it is higher among
Obesity is a medical condition, in which a person’s excessive body fat accumulates to a point where it may have a negative impact on their health causing serious illness, disability and premature death. In Australia the rate of obesity has gradually increased over time, where in 2011-2012 it was found that 35.3% Australians aged 18 and over were overweight and 27.5% obese. (WHO reference)This health condition is the outcome of a range of social determinants that warrant attention. However this report will focus on and discuss two social determinants that could conceivably lead to obesity or being overweight.
Public health issue refers to a health issue that affects the populations as a whole and its financial burden to the society. Childhood obesity is a major public health issue that has impacted the public population health and the cost to prevent and control it. The primary concern deals with obese children growing into obese adults in the future posing an increase in health care cost to obese related health conditions. Strongly linked to mortality and morbidity in adulthood, childhood obesity can cause low self-esteem, eating disorders, negative body image, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular health factors and decreasing the quality of life (Thorpe, et al., 2004). Social determinants of health impact the risk behaviors of childhood obesity from diet and built environment. At the family level, examples of both determinants can be seen in changes to family structures, socioeconomic status, and perceptions and attitudes toward health and nutrition. Children spend most of their time in a school setting, so school setting changes have been made to nutritional and physical activity policy, physical education equipment, and the sales if unhealthy food and drinks.
This is a weakness because the data may have changed due to the rising endemic of childhood obesity in the United States. Focusing on the ideas of “toxic environment”, there has been no research conducted on the relationship to genotype. It is unknown if certain individuals, who have obesity-predisposing genes, are likely to expose themselves to the toxic environment. Concerning socioeconomic status, it is difficult to classify the mechanisms that underlie it, as research has some suggestions, but no definitive proof. Several studies in poor SES areas had a higher exposure to fast-food outlets, which contain calorically dense inexpensive foods. Many low SES communities are situated in high frequency areas, therefore less space for parks or recreational centers. Some researchers claim limited access to resources, differential costs of nutritious foods or access to recreational facilities all play a role in the inverse relationship between obesity and SES. There is little research on how family home nutrition and physical activity influences food insecurity and childhood obesity in rural settings. It is difficult to gain this information, as many people want to live private lives and not be the center of an ongoing research
Much has been written to explain the medical aspect of obesity but little attention has been paid to understanding the sociological aspect of the epidemic. This research attempts to understand the sociological aspect of obesity by examining the socio-cultural, gender, and psycho-social effects and includes the different perceptions of the epidemic as well as what is deemed acceptable in the society we live in.
According to The Sociology of Obesity it is believed that the “obesity epidemic is largely driven by environmental factors” which are coupled with the lack of nutritional foods and the “excessive use of motor vehicles” and leading a sedentary life (Rosengren & Lissner 2008). With the increase of energy dense food which is relatively cheaper than high quality food and mor accessible especially to the lower socioeconomic classes. With each country, there are different stages of development, but in the western world (America), the socioeconomic slopes with “respect to obesity are both heterogeneous and in transition” (Rosengren et al., & Korbonits (2008). The impact upon the obese has resulted in the stigmatization and has caused great concern
In this case, socioeconomic factors, especially education and income, are key contributors to poor nutrition and lifestyle behaviors. Greg Critser points out studies which show that the effects of socioeconomic status on disparities are stronger than those of race and ethnicity . Regardless of which characteristic might be a stronger contributor to diet-related disparities, the significance of socioeconomic factors cannot be exaggerated. For example, level of education impacts knowledge of dietary recommendations and skills to make healthy food choices , while income influences whether a person have access to healthier foods at a price they can afford. When people move from middle to low socioeconomic status food choices shift toward cheaper, but more energy-dense foods. Low socioeconomic status leads to consuming high calorie food and avoiding physical
America is facing a growing danger that has been gradually taking more and more years off of the life expectancy of its citizens. Obesity has been a growing issue throughout the United States over the last few decades and is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the country. This health issue, particularly childhood obesity, is definitely a health equity issue that needs to be addressed. Being overweight stems from and creates its own complexities that undoubtedly affect the determinants of health. There are two main angles public health can attack this issue from; developing a healthy public policy and developing personal skills with regards to health.
Obesity has been increasingly taking over the nation in the past 30 years or more. Although food choices are different from person to person, the underlying cause is not primarily the individual’s choice, but a combination of predetermined inherent attributes. Race, gender, social class, and age have significant roles in how obesity affects the nation.
Over 60 million people are obese in the world today. The socioeconomic statuses of the Americans play a major part in the obesity rates across the country. People with higher incomes are less likely to be obese than people with lower incomes. One in every seven preschool-aged children living in lower income areas are obese (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). A 2008 study showed that obesity is highest among American Indian and Alaska Native (21.2 percent) and Hispanic Americans (18.5 percent) children, and it is lowest
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third, 34.9% (78.6 million) of adults in the United States are obese (Adult Obesity Facts). In 2008, the annual medical cost of obesity was $147 billion dollars, and the people who were obese had medical costs that were $1,429 higher than those at normal weight. The National Census Bureau of the United States reveals that the overall percentage of all ages with a body mass index of over 30 (obese) has increased from 20% of the population in 1998 to 33% in 2008. The amount of adults who are physically inactive has increased in that same time period from 28.9% to 36.2% of the population. Non-Hispanic blacks have the highest age-adjusted rates of obesity of 47.8%, followed by Hispanics at 42.5%, non-Hispanic whites at 32.6%, and non-Hispanic Asians at 10.8%. The prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States in 2011-2012 was approximately 17% or 12.7 million of children aged 2-19 years old.12 There are significant racial disparities in children as well. Obesity prevalence was higher among Hispanics at 22.4% and non-Hispanic black youth at 20.2% than non-Hispanic white youth at 14.1%. The lowest prevalence of obesity was non-Hispanic Asian youth at
The obesity epidemic and our nation’s health as a whole have many factors that include socioeconomic status in particular. Socioeconomic Status and Childhood Obesity will always shape our nations vision and mission with what we do with healthcare. Healthcare in America is in a major reconstruction faze, and is in much need of it, obesity and socioeconomic status are going to be the major contributors to this reconstruction.
Obesity in general is becoming an epidemic in the United States. It is also being considered a disease. Obesity is an excessively high amount of body fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass. The amount of individuals who are affected by this medical disease are increasingly located in the lower class. It is possible that government aid food programs are no help to this issue. Not only are adults being affected, but more children are falling into the category of obese. Obesity in children can be looked at from many possible areas, such as race and ethnicity, the education level of the parents, their gender, and where they are located in a city or town. Many researchers have begun to attempt to discover a solution to this growing epidemic. Obesity is increasing in low income areas in the United States. Government aids and other programs help aid low-income families and help battle obesity.
Within the last decade, the rate of obesity has been increasing. In 2012, at least one-third of U.S. adults were obese.1 It is expected by 2018 that the number of obese adults increases to half of U.S. adults.2 The rates for children and adolescents are increasing as well. In 2012, about seventeen percent of children and adolescents were obese.2 However, the number of obese individuals vary throughout the U.S. The South and Midwest have a higher prevalence of obesity while the West and Northeast have lower rates.3 America, on the other hand, is not the only country with increasing rates. Other European countries such as Europe, Ireland, and Sweden are on this trend.4 The increasing prevalence of obesity in the U.S. is due to numerous
When people imagine a person in poverty, the first image that comes to mind might be a starving African child with their ribs protruding. It’s obvious that people in poverty can’t afford enough food to eat. However, what people may not realize is that the same reason why people are underweight is the same reason they are overweight. Why is this the case? If people don’t have enough money to buy food, how can they be obese? [Rhetorical questions]