The Attitudes And Practices Of Nigerian Immigrants On Eating And Physical Activity

Apart from healthcare issue, the country has adopted the fast-moving life style, which has pushed most of our citizens to succumb to obesity as a result of fast foods. In fact, a recent report by the UN has ranked the United States as the most obese country in the world. Parramore (2012) outlines that, “Obesity is currently being considered as a national crisis in the United States and that it contributes 100,000 to 400,000 deaths per year. Statistics at the CDC and Prevention in 2010 indicate that 35.7% of the American adult is obese.” Many input trends exist in the American society, “First and foremost, people are highly used to fried foods, sugary drinks, and processed meats among others. There is also the sedentary lifestyle that has been adopted by many,” (Huffington Post, 2013). In fact, most of us love relaxing without exercise and too much television watching. These are some of the factors that contribute to obesity. The result is health complications problems such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease just to mention but a few. These affect the longevity of life.

Poor nutrition in the United States is indeed a scary factor that continues to lead our citizens to chronic healthcare conditions. The article notes “Health People 2020 states the most affected are non-White, Hispanic adult populations are disproportionately affected by obesity” (Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 2014, p. 6)

The purpose of this assignment is to increase self-awareness of the student by analyzing personal nutritional intake and activity routine throughout the course. In turn, the student will be able to help others modify their diet and activity, and improve overall wellness. An examination of a personal food and activity assessment will provide the student with essential data from which to change their health and wellness behaviors.

As per Healthy People 2020 most Americans do not consume healthy diets and are not physically active at levels needed to maintain proper health. As a result of these behaviors the nation has experienced a dramatic increase in obesity in the U.S with 1 in 3 adults (34.0%) and 1 and 6 children and adolescents (16.2%) are obese. In addition to grave health consequences of being overweight and obese. It significantly raises medical cost and causes a great burden on the U.S medical care delivery system ("Healthy People 2020," 2014, p. 1).

The effects of the western diet are emphasized and seen through immigration. Many articles and studies have been done to show the effects of the westernized diet among immigrants. We often view immigrants as people coming to America seeking opportunity for themselves and their families to have better lives. While immigrants focus on providing for their family, one must wonder how often they think of the foods they and their families consume. In this section we will explore the effect of the western diet on different communities of immigrants. Batis, Bates, and Sanou, analyze the trends of obesity between Mexican immigrants and Americans, Latino & Asian Americans, and Canadian born vs. Canadian Immigrants.

America is known for its advanced society and technology, but is also known to be one of the most obese populations. Found in “Down to Earth”, America is one of the most progressive countries to exist; therefore it should be the healthiest (“Obesity in America”). If America is so highly advanced, more advancement needs to be put towards obesity rates. As time goes on, adults and children are having to consequently expand their waistbands because of unhealthy habits. In an article previously discussed, Brown-well states that Americans are at an all-time low in exercising (Murray). By having less motivation to exercise, family health is at stake. Future generations need to be more pressured to keep physically fit for their health. With less motivation for a healthier lifestyle, communities across America will remain obese. According to CBS news, Americans prefer to consume Twinkies over Tofu (“The Blame Game”). With Americans not giving healthier options opportunity, less interest will be put into healthy options. Individuals are focusing on the pleasure of taste than their own well being. Internationally speaking, Americans have one of the strongest societies, but the weakest mindset for healthy living. With stubborn attitudes and continual unhealthy choices, obesity will not only stay but

Improving the health conditions of the American population ensures the increased quality of life. People eat for various reasons with the fundamental reason being for survival purposes. However, the issue of eating to live and living to eat affects people in different manners as most people develop poor eating habits that affect the body’s nutritional intake and affects their health. Being healthy involves careful considerations of what one is eating and engaging in activities that contribute to better healthy lives that do not imply daily prescriptions or

“Unhappy Meals” written by Michael Pollan covers the unknown links between diet and our health. When reading the text, paragraphs 40 through 44 affected me the most. It had me think about how some surveys could be unreliable to due unrealistic questions used in the given survey. Previous to reading the article, I had assumed that information given to me about diets, especially the Western types, was correct. While reading the article I began to suspect that my previous assumptions were wrong. The results of this realization had lead me to be more open minded about new information. I began to take in that maybe surveys were not one size fits all. Pollan wrote this article to be persuasive. However, in my opinion, Pollan could benefit from changing

The purpose of this literature review was to examine the dietary behaviors of low-income African Americans from a socio-ecological perspective. Based on 12 descriptive studies, dietary behaviors were the result of personal and environmental factors. Low-income African Americans were eating more fast foods because of the culture, social traditions, role expectations impact eating practices and pattern within peer groups, friends and family. (Robinson, 2008) Another research conducted by Amy and her friends tried to test a dietary intervention for high risk African Americans. They used telephone data and logistic regressions to identify the association of low-fat eating behaviors with personal and environmental behaviors. They found that education and low income were associated with high-fat eating behaviors in African American. (Eyler et al., 2004). Similarly, the study conducted by Weinrich and her friends on body mass index and intake of selected foods in African American men tested the relationship between selected dietary consumption and BMI. The sample was a community-based cohort of 204 African American Southern men who attended a prostate screening program. They found out 47% of them was obese and the majority of them ate chicken and fried fish. Few men ate vegetables. They concluded that, African American men need

Greg Critser author of “Too Much of a Good Thing,” published by the Los Angeles Times proclaims obesity the most pivotal medical issue currently, citing United Nation health and nutrition experts. Rising rates of obesity around the world and in United States, due to several universal factors and underlying parental challenges, have created an environment detrimental for parents educating children in acceptable dietary behaviors (Critser 161). Critser affirms the stigmatization of unhealthy dietary behaviors would result in reduction of risk and harm regarding obesity; furthermore, he cites incidences where the stigmatization of perverse behaviors diminished the frequency of hazardous activities. The author challenges several widely-accepted

Based on background information, a central hypothesis was developed that obesity is an ongoing, gendered and embodied cultural process that has harmful consequences for the obese individual (e.g. Harjunen, 2002&2003). The various social implications of obesity will be explored via interviews (with obese people or former obese people) conducted and the surveys taken of people in the Boston area.

This project tries to understand if people today are really health conscious, whether they realize the importance of health eating and exercising. Also the project focuses on which physical activities do people prefer the most, if people have knowledge of “a balanced diet regime”, and what is their daily routine of physical activity.

Obesity is a major health problem, and there is a rising trend of overweight and obese individuals in developing countries. Research into the health dangers associated with being obese or overweight has shown that obesity contributes significantly to mortality and morbidity rates in several countries around the world. In Nigeria alone, the prevalence of overweight individuals ranges from 20.3%–35.1%, while that of obesity ranges from 8.1%–22.2%. Without doubt, obesity has become a real cause for concern for the Nigerian government. Though active steps have been taken by the Nigerian government to sensitize its populace on living healthy and the risks associated with being overweight and obese; individuals who are currently suffering from obesity or have the tendency to become overweight need to pay a closer attention to their health by making use of natural and more efficient ways to combat these health disorders.

Bhatta et al. (2014) also found that excess body weight and obesity in immigrants is due to adoption of new dietary practices.

Conducting a study using humans as participants raises a variety of ethical concerns. This is why it is necessary to inform the participants of the purpose of the interview or focus group and what it plans to accomplish. Also, the privacy of each participant must be respected when publishing or distributing all research findings. If these requirements are not met, the study being conducted will in turn become unethical.