How lifestyle contributes to obesity.

Lifestyle choices can contribute to obesity in early adult when a person takes in more calories than he or she uses. These excess calories are stored in the body as fat, and unless weight-control strategies are put into place, more and more weight is gained. Some of our Belizeans are not physically active due to the fact that they spend hours on TV and computers doing work, schoolwork, and leisure activities.  As a people, we tend to rely on cars or public transportations instead of walking.  On top of that, there are fewer physical demands at work or at home because of modern technology and conveniences, and lack of physical education classes in college.  For instance, in call centres, workers physical demands are extremely low. Their job requires them to sit behind a computer unlike a construction worker whose physical demands at work are much high. The construction worker would be less likely to become obese. Just as important as exercise, nutrition is also an important factor for a healthy lifestyle.  Access to healthy food is vital; some people attend a school/work whereby healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables are not available. For some people, these healthy foods are too costly. Forced to settle with what is offered, an individual may form a routine of eating one specific type of food they are comfortable with. As a result, they’re nutritional balance is not satisfied or met. College students tend to pull “all-nighters” and snack 24\7 which can be health threatening.   As a result, lifestyle habits do not only affect calories consumption but also lack of exercise. People’s lifestyle plays a major role in obesity.

Belizean Culture contribution to obesity

People from different culture view obesity differently.  A person’s culture permeates every aspect of their life, including how they think about fatness and thinness, eating behaviour, and activity patterns. Some may see it as attractive and normal and others may see it as unhealthy. The reasons for obesity among cultures are complex, likely involving genetics, physiology, socioeconomic status (SES), and environment. Patterns of eating and physical activity also increase obesity among cultures. Different ethnic groups are associated with a range of different body shapes and different physiological responses to fat storage. Belize is diverse in which there are many cultures and practices. Some of these cultures tend to keep their tradition and passes it from one generation to the other.

Some ethnic groups have healthier eating habits than others. The Mayans are hardworking people and they tend to consume a lot of food. Traditionally, the Mayans are people that do not grow tall but are hard workers and heavy eaters. The women in this ethnic group spends majority of their time in the kitchen preparing food. Base on the preparation of meals, the Mayan ensure that everyone is satisfied. Obesity is present in this culture due to excess amount of food intake but lack of physical activities from working on the millpa because many have adopted the modern lifestyle.

 Hudut- garifuna dish

Other cultures such as the Garifuna; they tend to eat heavy/large meals that are rich in carbs, such as hudut that is all carbs with the beaten plantain, the soup that is made from coconut with is high in fat, contributing to obesity. Again it bring us to the area of lack of exercise, in that early years after the Garifuna people had settled in Belize they did a lot of farming and fishing so many of the calories they consume was burn off in daily chores. Woman would wash on scrub board, and even harvest from the plantation. However, due to the Africa descent of the Garifuna some believe that being thick is beautiful but today limit between thick and overweight has disappeared.

Obesity is also present in the Hispanic and Mestizo culture. Some food that are high in calories in the Mestizo culture is salbutes and panades that are fry in oil, also the famous tamales this is made fully from corn, starch, hence high with carbs. The Mennonites are less likely to be obese because they are active people, do their own farming (likewise the Mayans) and they consume what they grow in their farm.

Technology’s contribution to weight 

According to WHO 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2014, and 13% were obese and that Most of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.  What is the real cause of these increasing numbers what contributes to it, can it be blamed on food alone? Various types of things can make people gain weight. As the country is moving along with technology so does the number of people with obesity. Many may try to find the connection and ask the question can a television or can my computer make me fat?  According to Maggie fox of NBC news “It comes up with a surprisingly consistent statistic: For every 10 percent rise in what a country spends on information and communications technology, there’s a 1 percent increase in obesity rates.”

Technology doesn’t just keep people in their chairs and on sofas, according to the report from the non-profit Milken Institute. It changes the way people eat, also adding even more pounds than the lack of exercise alone would. Instead of walking over to friends we now tend to use the chat apps which makes life easier and add more calories to our waist line. Facing the current  issues when it comes to technology by our growing nation Obesity  is a growing trend in adults related to the  increased inactivity  due to advances in technology e.g. computer games, Play station, Xbox  which result in more sedentary lifestyles.  People also tend to want what is being advertise on internet and on television without knowing the risk of processed foods and snacks that has a high calorie and are unhealthy for someone. It can also lead to more visits to the doctor which means more money will be spent on medical care. Obesity is no laughing matter and should be taken into consideration.