Social Factors Related to Obesity

Question 1

what are the inter related dimensions of a healthy lifestyle (3)

Answer 1

1. individuals
2. individuals within their environment (family, friends, community, workplace)
3. relationship between individuals and their social environment

Question 2

Social environment: Proximal factors

Answer 2

family
peers (work)
friends

Question 3

social environment: distal factors

Answer 3

-social networks in the community/neighbourhood
-perceptions (trust/acceptance) in the community
-crime (persons/property) & incivilities (graffiti, vandalism)

Question 4

how is obesity and social factors connected? (3)

Answer 4

Links between neighbourhood, individual incomes, socioeconomic status (SES) and risk for obesity.
-parks and open spaces increase in high SES
-where there is food insecurity there is the highest obesity rates
-in lower SES areas there are 2-4x as many convenience stores than supermarkets/food markets

Question 5

how does obesity rates connect with level of education?

Answer 5

obesity decreases with higher household education.

Question 6

connection between food choice & social factors

Answer 6

cost of high quality food is generally more expensive than lower quality food (pop/chips) & may be easier/cheaper to buy junk than it is real food

Question 7

link between food vendors & social factors

Answer 7

-low income areas tend to have less access to quality food than high income equivalents
-more fast food outlets in low income neighbourhoods

Question 8

define “food desert”

Answer 8

is an area with no amenities/access to fresh food and vegtables

Question 9

why do low income areas tend to have less access to quality foods (2)

Answer 9

1. vendors that sell quality foods are harder to find/reach
2. ‘food desert’- more fast food chains are in low income areas

Question 10

link between sports/extra curriculars and social factors

Answer 10

-opportunity to take part in such is expensive and limited for low income families
-screens are cheaper than organized sports

Question 11

link between play and social factors

Answer 11

-low income neighbourhoods may not be safe or have access to high quality rec centers
-transportation (bus/walk) might be farand adds another barrier

Question 12

effects of COVID-19 on social factors (9)

Answer 12

-job loss: impacts income available for food
-increase stress: from job loss, increase alcohol consumption
-housing and food insecurities
-changes in available choices/behaviours
restrictions: lead to small busnisses closing (reduced access to fresh produce)
-disproportionally affected certain populations (health inequities)
-reduction in physical activity
-challenges in maintaing healthy eating habits
-increase sedentary behaviour
-social isolation

Question 13

define ethnicity

Answer 13

a broad multi-dimensional concept that forms from biological, psychological and social factors
-Includes national identity, diet, social situations, culture/colour, citizenship, language & faith
-Is dynamic

Question 14

how can ethnicity be related to obesity? (3)

Answer 14

• range of different body shapes & physiological responses to fat storage across different ethnic groups
  -some ethnic groups have different BMI obesity cut offs (ex. asians it is lower)
  -Different ethnic groups have different amounts of subcutaneous fats vs intra-abominal fats % naturally

Question 15

what is the thrifty gene hypothesis

Answer 15

genome adapted to an environment lacking in predictable access to food.

Question 16

how is the thrifty gene hypothesis related to obesity today?

Answer 16

• become very efficient in using and storing energy
  -the human genome has stayed thrifty but lifestyle has changed
  -True for all ethnic groups, something may be genetically unique about indigenous groups which in combination with a drastic lifestyle change puts them at a high risk for obesity

Question 17

Risk for obesity in Canada:
-indigenous
-immigants

Answer 17

Indigenous: 1.6x higher those living off reserve, 1.4x higher for Metis

Immigrants: less likely to be obese than non immigrants (17 vs 30%)

Question 18

potential reasons for risk variation (4)

Answer 18

1. nutritional transition
2. shifting trends in food availability, consumption, lifestyle & behavioural patterns
3. migration
4. genetics

Question 19

general trends of interethnic variation in diet (3)

Answer 19

1. caucasians tend to consume higher saturated fats/trans fat
2. south asians tend to consume higher carbs, fibre and lower total fat
3. chinese tend to consume more total fat & protein

Question 20

What does a westernization of diet mean

Answer 20

could be a rapid shift from a traditional diet to one of market foods (high sugar, carbs, fat, processed)

Question 21

interethnic variation in activity

Answer 21

-level of physical activity
-participation in sport/leisure PA
-other socio cultural factors

Question 22

individual (5) vs environmental (4) choices related to obesity. Give examples

Answer 22

Individual:
-culture
-skills
-knowledge
-time
-preferences

Environment:
-affordability
-access, availability
-placement
-marketing