Socio-cultural environment

Societal changes which have encouraged populations to be inactive to increase their food intake are thought to be the driving force for the obesity epidemic [1]. 

What may be needed, therefore, to shift the global obesity epidemic is a change in our socio-cultural environment.  Our everyday behaviours (e.g. eating and activity) strongly related to health, are intricate parts of our socio-cultural behaviours and our collective environment, but quite how these factors relate remains unclear.

 Examples of socio-cultural factors include social networks.  It has been found that having obese social contacts is actually related to obesity [1].  The possible mechanism for this is that obesity becomes ‘normalised’ and this influences both attitudes and eating behaviours.

Deprivation has been implicated as a key determinant in health and obesity status.  In developed countries studies have reported that body size and place of residence are related.  A study in Glasgow reported increasing mean body mass index (BMI) in four neighbourhoods with an increasing level of deprivation [2]. 

Also in Glasgow individuals living in more deprived areas had more exposure to out of home eating outlets in their neighbourhood [3].  The concept of food deserts has been discussed in the food section and there is an increasing body of scientific discussion around this topic. 

Low levels of neighbourhood disorder and the presence of high street facilities has been found to be associated with lower levels of obesity [4].  Therefore restoring order may be an effective way to tackle obesity, illustrating that agencies outside of health have an important role to play in tackling obesity.
 
The socio-cultural impact of our lifestyle on energy balance and obesity stretches beyond social networks, deprivation and neighbourhoods.  It is a complex web of related behaviours which merits further exploration.

Lake AA, Townshend TG, Ogilvie JA

References

1. Christakis, N.A. and J.H. Fowler, The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years. N Engl J Med, 2007. 357(4): p. 370-379.
2. Ellaway, A., A. Anderson, and S. Macintyre, Does area of residence affect body size and shape? International Journal of Obesity, 1997. 21(4): p. 304-308.
3. Macintyre, S., et al., Out-of-home food outlets and area deprivation: case study in Glasgow, UK. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2005. 2(1): p. 16.
4. Stafford, M., et al., Pathways to obesity: Identifying local, modifiable determinants of physical activity and diet. Social Science & Medicine. In Press, Corrected Proof.

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