The Color Spectrum of Culture and Health

The Colors Spectrum of Culture and Health

           Over the past weeks, attending lectures allowed me to think in depth of the word “culture,” and the role it plays to shape health beliefs.  In lecture, the word culture according to the Merriam-Webster is 1) cultivation, tillage, refinement, 2) the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education 3) expert care and training <beauty culture> 4) enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic education 5) the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behaviors that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.  While culture also means “abstract values, beliefs, and perceptions of the world that lie behind people’s behavior, and which are reflected in their behavior. These are shared by members of a society, and when acted upon, they produce behavior considered acceptable  within that society,” (Havilland, lecture 10/22).  As we can see the word culture entitles many aspects that shaped and allows us to think and believe the way we do.  Culture plays a significant role in what we believe is health.  Culture allows us to interrupt what is normal and what is not, how health is related to diseases and the method we use to diagnose and heal ourselves. Like Professor Alejandro Cerón stated in lecture that “culture is dynamic, it is always changing, it is not a share culture and that there is a common verse individual meaning; it is rather fine and differs.”  As we are all emerge into the westernized American culture and we may or may not embrace other cultures,  but what I know for sure is that we believe and see as healthy or not is formed and shaped by our cultures. Our knowledge, believes and experiences are defined by what culture we grown up in.  Let us address the western American culture verses the Asian culture in how we come to agree or disagree what is health and what is not.

            While I was reading articles off the internet about culture and health, I ran upon this article this article titled, How culture influences health belief, which addressed how culture shapes how different ethnic groups in the United States come to agree what is health and just like the title itself, how culture significantly influence their perceptions of health, diseases and illness.  “All cultures have systems of health beliefs to explain what causes illness, how it can be cured or treated, and who should be involved in the process.  The extent to which patients perceive patient education as having cultural relevance for them can have profound effect on their receptions to information provided and their willingness to use it,” (How culture Influences Health Beliefs).  This statement implies that again culture has helped us define what the health system we choose and how it influences our decisions and beliefs.  For example, in the western American culture we have health threat cases of obesity as the nation’s populations are getting heavier and heavier due to the change in food consumption which come back to our culture, what we see as “normal”. It is “normal” to see fast food restaurants at the corner of the streets from where we live or a quick 5-10 minute drive and we would see several chains of fast food restaurants awaits.  The video below addresses how there are cities and towns in the states that are living in what we call ‘food desserts,” they have little or no access to stores selling healthy food.  Over 13 million Americans are currently living in that situation, rather than healthy food stores and restaurant they are surrounded by food swamps that are considered to be normal. They are surrounded by fast food restaurant and corner stores that are selling high fat and high sugar food and beverages.  It never once crossed my mind when I was younger that this is an unhealthy case that these being surrounded by these food swamps were setting their health at risk for diseases, illnesses.  Why? Because of the culture that I grown up in.  Back then, I believed that if you have food to eat then you should be in good condition; you’re not struggling to find food each day to satisfy your hunger. 

Video- Big Food: Big Food: Health, Culture and the Evolution of Eating

            In some Asian culture, gaining weight or being a bit obese is considered to be “healthy.” You may think this is strange but in most third-world countries or developing nations, gaining excessive amount of weight means you are wealthy enough and can afford to buy excessive amount of food for consumption.  Only the skinny or under weighted individuals are the ones who are not consuming enough food on a daily basis because they are poor. This is where you can see the huge health disparities in developing nations, the gap between the rich and the poor are significantly influencing health.  In Asia or Southeast Asia, it is not normal to see fast food restaurant around the corner or in driving distance because those food can only be afforded by the rich and wealthy. Unless the American culture.  It is “normal” is see stores, shops or open markets to be selling healthy foods and beverages.  Meaning while because of the different culture and lifestyle, it influences the people’s health because there are a very small amount of obesity cases in Asian culture verses the American culture. The health concerns are different. 

            As we can see, the American culture and lifestyles influences the population to be threatening by chronic diseases while the Asian culture and lifestyle influences the population to be threatening by infectious diseases due to the lack of technologies and advances.  Culture according to Scrimshaw is, “vary in their definitions of health and of illness. A condition that is endemic in a population may be seen as normal and may not be defined as illness,” this supports that what American sees as obese to be illness, the Asian cultures sees as wealth.   Americans are moving forward for changes in healthier food choice to better their health and for the well being.  The picture below shows a sign that said “Change Ahead,” with a bright blue sky background and fresh green grasses shows that that is hope for Americans and that hope comes with changes awaiting; culture changes.   In the Asian culture, people are still convinced that gaining weight is “health” so they will work toward their goals to be able live the American lifestyle and maybe one day, the situation will be reverse. Because culture is dynamic and will always changes to better our lives, it significantly influences our health.

Image:

"Creating a Next-Generation Health and Wellness Program - Why Employers Should Take the Lead and How to Do It." Creating a Next-Generation Health and Wellness Program - Why Employers Should Take the Lead and How to Do It. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/article/creating-a-next.html>.

Article:

"How Culture Influences Health Beliefs." How Culture Influences Health Beliefs. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://www.euromedinfo.eu/how-culture-influences-health-beliefs.html/>.

Video:

YaleUniversity. "Big Food: Health, Culture and the Evolution of Eating." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OP9qFD7tFU>.

~Section AH