Free Essay on Food Consumption Factors

Still, on the age factor, younger women are more conscious about keeping a good body shape and are therefore more likely not to take junk foods and fatty foods. They usually put themselves on a diet that is geared towards ensuring that their bodies are in the best form. They are therefore very conscious of the kinds of food that they consume. The girls of a younger age would always wish to be slim yet they find going to the gym very involving. As a result, the resort to feeding on less food or foods that contain very limited amounts of fat. The media has played a very crucial role in instilling the notion in people that slimmer girls are usually cuter than their fat counterparts. This has gone hand in hand in influencing the feeding patterns since the involved individuals’ especially young ladies now take limited amounts of food with an aim of ensuring that they maintain a slim body size. The fear of these young ladies gaining weight and missing a boyfriend is unimaginable. This is a factor that usually influences the feeding patterns of individuals in different societies. This however is not the opinion that all young women hold on to. There are those who feel that it is their freedom to eat as much as they wish and accept the consequences of uncontrolled eating as they come. For instance, they easily accept the fact that over-eating will make them fat but they believe they have enough favourable clothes to put on in the event that they gain weight.

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Food consumption trends

Health effect is the key factor that most individuals consider in ensuring that they choose the type of meals to consume. Fatty foods are discouraged by most individuals since they are believed to increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases. A quantitative analysis on members of different societies was found to be the most appropriate in analysing of these trends in food with respect to the prevalence in cardiovascular diseases. This is due to the fact that it enables easy collection of data on diverse views from different cultures and experiences that are diverse. Studies have shown that cardiovascular disease prevalence is usually closely associated with the types of food that members of a particular society consume. In cases where junk food and fast foods are consumed, cases of cardiovascular diseases are more common most members attempt to ensure that they change their diets to avoid complications that are food-related. The body needs foods of all classes to ensure that it remains healthy and strong enough to perform the various activities necessary for the survival of an individual (Moreno, et al., 2011 p142). However, excessive consumption of food may in most cases lead to undesirable health conditions on the individual’s body.

The research study employed a qualitative research design to investigate the social and cultural factors that influenced the use of food by various individuals in any society. Both men and women were included in the sample used for the study. A qualitative analysis was found to be the most appropriate in analysing of these trends in food since it enables easy collection of data on diverse views from different cultures and experiences that are diverse (Ritchie, 2008 p32). Cardiovascular disease prevalence is another factor that is closely associated with the types of food that members of a particular society consume. In cases where junk food and fast foods are consumed, cases of cardiovascular diseases are more common most members attempt to ensure that they change their diets to avoid complications that are food-related. The trends in the type of food are seen to be significantly different for individuals who moved to town or urban settings from their indigenous rural environments within a period of the past 5 years. Movement to town environment or just the general change in environment is seen to significantly increase impact on the trends in the type of food consumed. Most emigrants to town adopted the town culture and budget “(The importance of socio- cultural environment on food and health, 2007).”.

Healthy eating trends

The other socio-cultural factor that usually influences the consumption of food is the general wellbeing that is associated with the food. Studies have shown that food makes some people happy especially young men. You won’t be surprised to meet individuals who just feel extremely fascinated at the sight of food. They young men usually really enjoy the food prepared to them by their wives and would eat as long as there is food without limitations. The fact that food makes people happy is even evident from the fact that people usually attend parties to take the meals (Shepherd, Raats, 2009 p46). It is usually notable that people who have sufficient food are fresh and more active than those with limited amounts of food or than those who are exposed to starvation. In most cultures and families, there are specific occasions when people usually have the obligation to eat. These include circumcision ceremonies, funeral ceremonies for some communities and other traditional ceremonies depending on the culture in question.

Most cultures require that food is boiled without addition of any spices during ceremonies. The foods that are commonly prepared in this manner in ceremonies include potatoes, cabbage, meat or even chicken. Some cultures and societies usually dictate exclusive use of black tea in funerals with zero cases of using milk tea or meat products. Food is in some societies used to show appreciation to people involved (“Barker, Bagby, 2008”). There are cases where parties are conducted and participants heavily rewarded with food. These people could include the people who have consistently offered family support or other forms of aid. Most societies usually use fatty meat or white tea in cases where a celebration is needed “Socio-cultural factors influencing food consumption Patterns (2009)”. The kinds of foods that are consumed during happy occasions like weddings and birthdays also vary from one society to the other. Universally, cakes, ice creams and sweets are usually consumed during happy occasions like birthdays and weddings (Shepherd, Raats, 2009 p43). Daily consumption of meat is closely linked with the socio-economic status of the individual. It has been assumed since the socialisation ages that individuals of a higher social class were able to afford meat on a daily basis. Having a good appetite for food is another factor that studies show that determines the quantity of food that an individual takes. A good appetite is however usually associated with good health by an individual (Boyle, Holben, 2013 p11).

Eating trends

Some societies have their members believing that food offers emotional satisfaction. This is due to the fact that the members feel that eating a lot of food is sufficient evidence that they can afford the food. Some society associate this scenario was an individual can eat well to being successful. This shows how important food can be in promoting emotional satisfaction in some societies. In other cases, food has been proven to promote social interactions. Food has over a long period of time been known to be a unifying factor for most friends and families since the family members or friends come together during meals. Most reconcilements are usually done round the food table both in the traditional and modern societies. Some women for instance believe culturally that they can make their husbands happy by preparing them their favourite meals. In cases where there are disagreements in the family or disagreements between friends, the woman usually prepares the favourite meal for the husband so that they talk off the issue (“The importance of socio- cultural environment on food and health”, 2007) Some studies have shown that cardiovascular disease prevalence is usually closely associated with the types of food that members of a particular society consume (Ramachandran, 2014). In cases where junk food and fast foods are consumed, cases of cardiovascular diseases are more common most members attempt to ensure that they change their diets to avoid complications that are food-related.

The above discussion represents the various socio-cultural factors that influence the food consumption in any culture or society. In as much a health should be the main concern when choosing the type of meal to take, most societies have different norms and standards that if well followed usually lead to various effects on the consumption rates for different food types. It was common finding food being shared during occasions like circumcision in the past for most societies. This further led to unity among members.

References

Ferraro, G. P., & Briody, E. K. (2013). The cultural dimension of global business. Boston, Pearson.

Ritchie, J. (2008). Qualitative and Quantitative research practice: a guide for social science students and researchers. London [u.a.], Sage Publ.

Moreno Aznar, L., Pigeot, I., & Ahrens, W. (2011). Epidemiology of obesity in children and adolescents: prevalence and etiology. New York, Springer.

Boyle, M. A., & Holben, D. H. (2013). Community nutrition in action: an entrepreneurial approach. Belmont, Calif, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Ramachandran, N. (2014). Persisting undernutrition in India: causes, consequences and possible solutions.

Shepherd, R., & Raats, M. (2009). The psychology of food choice. Cambridge, MA, CABI Pub.

Lee, R. E., Mcalexander, K., & Banda, J. (2011). Reversing the obesogenic environment. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics.

Social and economic factors determining food consumption-NCBI, Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19924/. Accessed on 12 November 2016

Socio-cultural factors influencing food consumption Patterns (2009), Available at: http://www.eufic.org/article/en/expid/review-food-choice/. Accessed on 12 November 2016

The importance of socio- cultural environment on food and health (2007), Available at: http://repository.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/handle/10566/253, Accessed on 12 November 2016

5 Food Groups, 2012, Available at: https://healthy-kids.com.au/food-nutrition/5-food-groups/ Accessed on 12 November 2016

Barker DJ, Bagby SP. Developmental antecedents of cardiovascular disease: A historical perspective. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2008;16(9):2537–2544.