GRSJ224/socialdeterminantsofhealthpractices

This page will address some of the social influences and determinants regarding health practices. This health practices include healthy eating, its social determinants such as how poverty/wealth effect eating habits, and the healthy eating among children. The social and cultural focus will be on Canada however some research will be originating from the U.S.

Food insecurity --> Healthy Eating & Nutrition practices

In 2012 Statistics Canada released that 8.3% of households experienced food insecurity in the preceding year. This food insecurity number was down by nearly half of what is was about a decade ago ago, 14.7% in 2000-2001 (Power). But 8.3% still accounts for a whopping 1.1 million households in Canada whom do not know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity doesn’t always just mean not knowing where your next meal is coming from, but also stands as a barrier to adequate nutritional intake. Often times people who have donated meals or go to a soup kitchen, consumes meals high in canned foods and lacking fresh fruits and vegetables. Therefore leading to unhealthy eating and nutrition practices.

Dr. Elaine Power writes in her article, "Determinants of Healthy Eating Among Low-Income Canadian", that there are gradients to diet in terms of socio-economic status where those who are wealthier consume healthier diets compared with those whom are less well off. She also put forth the concept that improved nutrition among lower income Canadians will be hard to achieve "a) in isolation from other changes to improve their lives"; and "b) without improvement in the nutrition of the general population of Canadians." (Power, 2005) Food prices are one of the most important thing to consider when understanding why people with lower socio-economic status tend to have a poorer nutritional diet. Cheaper priced foods often have higher sugar and fat content and provide the “least expensive source of dietary energy” (Taylor et al., 2005) People in lower socio-economic status also tend to be less well educated meaning they may be less educated in dietary and nutritional quality. Thus, once again, leading to a poorer nutritionally dense diet.

Healthy Eating in Children and Youth

Healthy eating: "Eating practices and behaviours that are consistent with improving, maintaining and/or enhancing health" (Taylor et al., 2005)

It is well known that childhood obesity rates in north america are continually growing. According to data collected from 2003, 1 in 4 kids under 18 are at risk to be overweight. 15% are already overweight. One can only imagine what the rates are today (Patrick & Nicklas, 2005). There are two main factors that play a role. 1) Diet 2) Exercise. Childhood obesity is such a concern because obese children tend to become obese adults and at at significantly higher risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer just to name a few (Patrick & Nicklas, 2005).

Diet has been addressed as one of the main culprits for childhood obesity and this is due to a few social determinants. "By the time children are 3 or 4 years old, eating is no longer deprivation-driven but is influenced by their responsiveness to environmental cues about food intake" (Patrick & Nicklas, 2005). Significant influences in environment can have negative effects on healthy eating in children and youths. These environmental influences comes from home, school, and fast-food establishments (Taylor et al., 2005). The home environment sets eating habits at a young age which future healthy eating practices are measured by. For example, if a family practice was to have fast food for dinner 3 nights a week, this practice is much more likely to continue into adult hood. Where as the family who only goes out to eat one meal a week, that person will grow up and be more likely to cook most their meals which will significantly help their health. One family practice that appears to be slipping in recent years and has affected children is eating breakfast. American surveys indicate a decrease in quality of diet along with a decline in breakfast consumption (Taylor et al., 2005). These results have been replicating in smaller studies within Canada, suggesting that Canadian breakfast habits parallel American. This is a concern since evidence suggests that children who eat breakfast are more likely to have a healthier diet that those that do not, contributing to unhealthy eating practices (Taylor et al., 2005). Another large determiner is kids personal preference. Being a "picky eater" or not liking foods such as fruits and vegetables is a strong determinator in poor healthy eating. Home, and family roles must play a large part in combating these dislikes in order to ensure their child reaches minimal nutritional guidelines, and hopefully grows out of it later in life (Taylor et al., 2005). Intervention studies using models such as Social Cognitive Theory, have not been able to explain or understand children's variation in eating behaviours like being a picky eater (Taylor et al., 2005).

In schools, not only does what is served at lunch time play a hug role in childhood obesity rates, but also the education they receive on what foods are considered healthy. If signifiant nutritional education is not given, then children bring this lack of information into their adult practices. Leading to increase risk of obesity in both childhood and adulthood.

The media can also play a significant contribution in unhealthy eating practices though advertisements and nutritional advertising (or lack of) (Taylor et al., 2005). For example, McDonalds want to change there appearance to that of a healthier one is a good example of how other companies or restaurants have branded themselves as "healthy" when in reality they may not actually be. Another good example of media influence over healthy eating is through fad diets or marketization of superfoods (Levy, 2014). By branding these foods with ideas of health, people take this to be the truth without first researching or investigating these health claims. The standard to which we compare health is off. In a 2015 survey, over half the americans who viewed themselves as in excellent or very good health, were over weight. http://www.foodinsight.org/sites/default/files/2015-Food-and-Health-Survey-Full-Report.pdf

Bibliography

Levy, Sandra. "Are Superfoods Really Good for You or Just Marketing Hype?" Healthlines RSS News. N.p., 22 July 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.

Patrick, Heather, and Theresa A. Nicklas. "A Review of Family and Social Determinants of Children’s Eating Patterns and Diet Quality." Journal of the American College of Nutrition 24.2 (2005): 83-92. Print.

Power, Elaine M., PhD. "Determinants of Healthy Eating Among Low-Income Canadian." Canadian Journal of Public Health / Revue Canadienne De Santé Publique Vol. 96 (2005): n. pag. JSTOR. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

Statistics Canada - Page title: Household food insecurity, 2011-2012

Taylor, Jennifer P., Susan Evers, and Mary McKenna. "Determinants of Healthy Eating in Children and Youth." Canadian Journal of Public Health / Revue C anadienne De Santé Publique 96 (2005): n. pag. JSTOR. Canadian Public Health Association. Web.