Obesity, undernourishment, and malnutrition: Alice Baker
1.
Social Economic Environmental
Obesity Behaviour – lack of exercise Poverty – Fast food chains Lack of green spaces or
and excess eating. offer quick and cheap places to exercise
Culture – Food Culture (Large meals for families with low outside. Isolated
beverages and portions of income. environments mean less
food), lack of emphasis on Lack of access to healthy access to substantial,
exercise and healthy diets from sources of food e.g.: lack of healthy food.
school age. green grocers.
Undernourishment Lack of education and access to Poverty results in a lack of Climatic variables such as
dietary needs. access to the basic heat and high humidity,
Prejudice towards women necessities of food, encourage the breeding
results in reduced access to healthcare, clean drinking of insects and vermin.
education and rest when water and sanitation. Malaria and river
pregnant or child-rearing. blindness are spread by
water-borne flies.
Polluted water.
2. To what extent is personal choice a factor in contributing to obesity and malnutrition?
The factor of choice is bigger in some areas than others in the case of obesity.
Due to varying degrees of economic status, a person or family may be forced to rely on
unhealthy dietary choices due to their lack of access to higher priced healthier foods. For
example, the rise in fast food chains and TNCs in America such as MacDonald’s and Coca-
Cola mean that the availability of fattier, quicker, and cheaper meals and beverages has
become more accessible in recent years. This is negative as due to their financial disposition;
families turn to fast-food chains which offer cheaper choices than the healthier supermarket
options. This results in little choice as low-income families in places across America and
other LICs become dependent on cheaper options for food that are not substantial and
which over time could lead to obesity. On the other hand, since America is an LIC, those who
can afford healthier choices have a higher option of choice. Therefore, Obesity levels for
those with money is more related to choose than those who are obese because of their
economic disposition.
Malnutrition, however, has little to no choice worldwide as it is a result of lack of food in the
first place. This could be due to the areas location which makes it difficult to grow/produce
enough food or due to poverty in which people cannot afford the food available. In areas
within Sub-Saharan Africa, this is common as the warm climate makes it hard for crops to
grow due to diseases and pests and there is widescale poverty which also makes it hard for
people to access food for their families.
3a.
Food security: access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food at all times that is
enough to provide a healthy and active life.
Food Sustainability: The ability to produce food in a way that guarantees food for future
generations and that has no negative effect on the environment.
1.
Social Economic Environmental
Obesity Behaviour – lack of exercise Poverty – Fast food chains Lack of green spaces or
and excess eating. offer quick and cheap places to exercise
Culture – Food Culture (Large meals for families with low outside. Isolated
beverages and portions of income. environments mean less
food), lack of emphasis on Lack of access to healthy access to substantial,
exercise and healthy diets from sources of food e.g.: lack of healthy food.
school age. green grocers.
Undernourishment Lack of education and access to Poverty results in a lack of Climatic variables such as
dietary needs. access to the basic heat and high humidity,
Prejudice towards women necessities of food, encourage the breeding
results in reduced access to healthcare, clean drinking of insects and vermin.
education and rest when water and sanitation. Malaria and river
pregnant or child-rearing. blindness are spread by
water-borne flies.
Polluted water.
2. To what extent is personal choice a factor in contributing to obesity and malnutrition?
The factor of choice is bigger in some areas than others in the case of obesity.
Due to varying degrees of economic status, a person or family may be forced to rely on
unhealthy dietary choices due to their lack of access to higher priced healthier foods. For
example, the rise in fast food chains and TNCs in America such as MacDonald’s and Coca-
Cola mean that the availability of fattier, quicker, and cheaper meals and beverages has
become more accessible in recent years. This is negative as due to their financial disposition;
families turn to fast-food chains which offer cheaper choices than the healthier supermarket
options. This results in little choice as low-income families in places across America and
other LICs become dependent on cheaper options for food that are not substantial and
which over time could lead to obesity. On the other hand, since America is an LIC, those who
can afford healthier choices have a higher option of choice. Therefore, Obesity levels for
those with money is more related to choose than those who are obese because of their
economic disposition.
Malnutrition, however, has little to no choice worldwide as it is a result of lack of food in the
first place. This could be due to the areas location which makes it difficult to grow/produce
enough food or due to poverty in which people cannot afford the food available. In areas
within Sub-Saharan Africa, this is common as the warm climate makes it hard for crops to
grow due to diseases and pests and there is widescale poverty which also makes it hard for
people to access food for their families.
3a.
Food security: access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food at all times that is
enough to provide a healthy and active life.
Food Sustainability: The ability to produce food in a way that guarantees food for future
generations and that has no negative effect on the environment.
