Social aspects of nutrition Flashcards
Give causes of obesity
Causes of obesity: • Societal/cultural influences • Food consumption • Food production • Biology • Energy balance • Individual activity • Activity environment
Explain the socio cultural context of obesity
- Media influences increase food advertising
- Increased social acceptability of fatness
- Loss of socio-cultural valuation of families eating together=lack of parental control of children’s food
- More passive entertainment = reduced activity
- Processed food cheaper than fresh food
- More work hours=less time for food prep and activity
- Reduced emphasis on physical activity in schools
- Greater urbanisation and cars mean opportunities for physical activities are reduced
What does the term obesogenic environment mean?
‘Obesogenic environment’ refers to the role of environmental factors in determining nutrition and physical activity.
What are the problems of BMI?
Doesn’t allow for difference in weight between muscle and fat
Doesn’t consider location of fat- Visceral (Abdominal) fat is most harmful
Inaccurate in different ethnic groups
Less accurate in elderly with lost muscle mass.
Describe waist circumference and waist to hip ratios
Waist circumference: considers location of fat
Men: Low<94cm, high 94-102cm,
Women: low<80cm, high 80-88cm
Doesn’t take account of skeletal size
Waist:hip/height ratios are more complex to assess, lacks reference data and standardised measurement protocols
Is there a link between obesity and cancer?
The link between body weight and cancer is firmly established:
Overweight and obesity increases risk of breast, colorectal, endometrial, kidney, and ovarian cancers
Hay association between weight and oesophageal cancer in men only
Describe the pathways linking obesity and health
What are the emotional consequences of obesity in young people and adults?
Body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem in community samples
Higher rates of depression at the higher grades of obesity
How does obesity cause discrimination and social exclusion?
Outline the theories linking genetic predisposition to obesity
Low resting metabolic rate is heritable and is associated with weight gain
Fat cell theory: Severely obese have larger and more cells, which is mainly genetically determined
Appetite theory: Leptin regulates appetite, but hay lack of evidence to show that obese individuals produce less leptin
What is the developmental model of eating behaviour?
Developmental model focuses on learning eating behaviour through exposure, role models and association:
People show neophobia (dislike of a certain food) but this reduces after exposure
Social learning: ppl copy eating behaviours from role models
Association- food as the reward. Overt control of food is more damaging than discreet/covert control
Describe the Cognitive model of eating behaviour
Emphasis on beliefs and attitudes. Framework for explaining, predicting and changing behaviour
Beliefs -> attitudes -> intentions -> behaviour, but often there is an intention behaviour gap
What is the third model of eating behaviour?
Weight concern and body dissatisfaction.
This focuses on the meaning of food and weight, and how its significance influences eating behaviour
Eg dissatisfaction w body weight can lead to dieting and subsequently overeating
What is the governments strategy to tackle obesity?
Improving access to weight loss programmes through primary care
Banning adverts for high fat, salt or sugar products on TV and online before 9pm.
Calorie labelling in large restaurants, cafes and takeaways.
Ending promotion of high fat, sugar or salt products in store and online.
Give treatment options for obesity
