Inequality and Obesity, Bourdieu Analysis - Research Paper Example

OBESITY: A BOURDIEUIAN ANALYSIS Table of Content Executive summary…………………………………………..…………………….3 0. Introduction………………………………………………….............................3 1.1Causes of obesity……………………………………………………………4 2.0. Inequality and Obesity………………………………………………………..4 3.0. Bourdieu analysis………………………………………..……………………5 3.1. Habitus…………………………………………………………………....6 3.2. Field……………………………………………………..…………………7 3.3. Capital………………………………………………………………….….7 3.4. Social class………………………………………………………………....8 4.0. Policy response to obesity in UK……………………………………….....….8 5.0. The current policies addressing obesity…………………….………….…...9 References…………………………………………………………………….….10 Executive Summary Obesity is a public health problem that has been declared an epidemic in many countries such as UK. As much as it occurs as a result of individual’s eating habits, it also rises a result of inequality in a society. Sociological theories such as Bourdieu’s social theory have indicated that such health problem as obesity is becoming more persistent due to inequalities in a society. This paper tries to investigate how policymakers in a country like UK don’t take into consideration the inequality that surrounds such a public health problem. It is prudent if policymakers considered incorporating the whole society in their effort to tackle obesity. They should ensure that the ‘powerful’ in the society don’t influence policymaking to their advantage as Bourdieu social theory explains. In efforts to combat obesity, which is a national epidemic some strategies should be adopted by the government and the council authorities. 1.0. Introduction Politicians, policy makers, and media outlets have stated with a lot of conviction that obesity is an epidemic. They have pointed and named some villains in the society that have contributed to this epidemic such as fast food. Over the past decade, the concerns regarding obesity rates have been enormous and endless especially among the youth (Ogden et al., 2006). California centre for public health advocacy (2006) perceive and refer this crisis as “the obesity epidemic.” This crisis is a social problem that can be linked to both the health of individuals and a nation at large. In UK, the prevalence rate of obesity has been reported to triple over the past two decades (WHO, 2007a). Obesity is a phenomenon that occurs in both adults and children. The rate among children has been increasing rapidly, in England, the prevalence rate among children between 5-10 years rose by over 300% from 1972 to 2003 (Canoy and Buchan, 2007). Individuals who are obese and overweight has been increasing at an alarming rate over the past. This has called for an awareness of the severe consequences of obesity in terms of economic costs and health related issue. Today tackling obesity is a public health priority in many countries face with this epidemic, including United Kingdom (UK). Obesity can be associated with ineffective health policy that don’t address social inequalities. 1.1. Causes of obesity Obesity occurs when caloric intake exceeds caloric expenditure. There are various dimensions that contribute to obesity such as genetic, environmental factors such as physical activity and food, and psycho-social. Social factors are greatly attributed to the rapid rise of obesity. Sedentary lifestyles that the society has adopted increase obesity, and also the proximity to fast food outlet is a contributing factor to obesity. Some literature have linked geographical proximity to food sources and unhealthy weight. Academics argue that working and living close to restaurants that sell fast food is correlated to increase in body weight (Davis and Carpenter, 2009, Delormier et al., 2009). Urban food deserts, low-income areas with numerous fast food outlets and difficulty in accessing grocery stores is closely linked to weight. Davis and Carpenter (2009) in their study found out that students who studied close to fast food chains are likely to be obese as well as consume fewer vegetables and fruits. 2.0. Inequality and Obesity Though the population associated with obesity is tremendously increasing, effects of obesity are not solely as a result of health related issues. Some studies have indicated that women who were overweight during adolescent ages had fewer years of schooling, low household incomes and had high rates of household poverty as compared to those that didn’t possess such characteristics (Ramsey & Glenn, 2002; Gortmaker, et al., 1993). There is a close link between race, poverty, and obesity among youths (Zapata, et al., 2008). The obesity rates tend to be higher in disadvantaged socio-economic groups, the disadvantaged can be either low income, poor education or a little occupation-based social class. Cutler and Lleras-Muney (2006) found that persons who are likely to a have a prolonged school life are less likely to smoke, use drugs, drink a lot and obese, and similarly the educated persons are likely to engage in activities such as physical exercising reducing obesity chances. There is also a correlation between household income and body mass index (BMI), where the BMI in high income earned is higher as compared to those of low-income earners. Education related inequalities in obesity has been reported to be large in southern European countries (Mackenbach et al., 1997). Studies have also indicated that adults in less disadvantaged socio-economic groups in Europe have less healthy nutrition patterns. 3.0. Bourdieu analysis Bourdieu’s central concepts comprise of habitus, field, capital, class, culture and taste, and systemic violence. These are the central concepts of Bourdieu’s theory and can be used to explain how obesity is a public health issue that arise as a result of inequality in a society. It is important to note that obesity occurs as a result of food consumption patterns that can relate to different social class. According to Bourdieu culture, creates certain dispositions that position people towards particular taste such as food. These orienting substance is what he referred to as habitus. It is, therefore, prudent to suggest that people might be inclined to take a particular type of food as a result of exposure to a certain type of foods (Bourdieu, 1984). According to Bourdieu (1984) one is prone to take a particular food based on the one’s social exposure to a certain type of culture. Consumption choices are influenced by cultural experience and social relations. It is from this perspective that modern researchers have found a relationship between culture exposure and consumption patterns. Some studies tried to investigate the relationship between social stratification (status, income and education) and visual art consumption in England, and found that art choices is not related to individualism (Chan and Goldthorpe, 2007). Instead, the two argue that consumption is influenced by social grouping pattern; hence they found that status was more imperative than income in determining art choices (Chan and Goldthorpe, 2007). Status can be defined using Bourdieuian definition, which relates status with lifestyle preferences attained as a result of cultural exposures. From this study, it can be clearly stated that obesity, which is greatly influenced as a result of consumption patterns will be influenced by the social status that does not advocate for equity. 3.1. Habitus Habitus is defined as a “system of dispositions” (Bourdieu, 2005: 43). From a biological perspective, dispositions are the innate qualities that individuals are born with. These conditions influence an individual’s behaviours, thought processes, and actions (Miller and Costello, 2001). Bourdieu argues that it is very difficult for the actors to be aware of their disposition that shapes their action. He defines awareness of the main reason for social action as reflexive action, rather than patterned or disposed action. In reflexivity, one will be aware of the social actions and the reason why such choices are made. On the contrary, habitus is the unconscious dispositions that unintentionally direct behaviour. According to Bourdieu, it is not possible to consciously know the reason for one’s actions and at the same time unaware of them. In regards to policy making in the health sector, it is a clear indication that, some people are obese since they were not aware of their consumption habit. Bourdieu argues that a social actor will be reflexive when their habitus does not fit with their field positions (Mouzelis, 2007). 3.2. Field The concept of habit cannot be understood without analysing the concept of field. Fields are the invisible social spaces in which social actors take positions with the aim of transforming or maintaining current social structures (Bourdieu, 2005b). Fields are the social spaces in which actors perform. Capital access is included in Bourdieu’s definition of a field, which in turn leads to a complex systems of social inequalities that will benefit some actors and disadvantage others. Actors have placed themselves in a hierarchical manner according to the amount of capital they possess. The actors can have some power, privilege, and social advantage. Hence, this dimensions are used to explain differences in lifestyle, which include food choice and consumption. The ability to shape a social field to one’s own advantage relies on field position. Just like habitus, a field is also changing and navigating. There is also the issue of competition where the actors want to gain power, and this is manifested when fast food chains befriend the public health authority formulate policies that don’t support their business. 3.3. Capital Bourdieu defines capital as an accumulation of goods that provide actors in the social field. The capital does not necessarily have to be material. According to Bourdieu forms of capital, include scholastic, genetic, and linguistic. However, he emphasized on four main types of capital namely, symbolic, cultural, social and economic (Thomson, 2008). Economic capital is the accumulation of wealth, which explains why the wealthy can consume anything that they want. It creates inequality in a society and may lead to obesity for those who can’t afford a proper diet. Symbolic capital is linked to status, which implies that actors are able to attain prestige, power, and respect as a result of symbolic capital (Bourdieu, 1977). 3.4. Social class Social classes attempt to shape fields to favour their ideologies and to make their characteristics appear superior to other classes. (Bourdieu, 1984). The people with power and capital are able to influence fields around their own norm and values. It is this fact that explains why policymakers in public health are an influence to formulate policies that disadvantage other in relation to obesity. In social class the powerful dominate ideology in relation to policy making, they decide what is attractive and what is not attractive. It is a system that is used to rank individuals as lower or higher in fields based on cultural differences, and this cultural difference can be used to justify economic and social inequality (Bourdieu. 1984). 4.0. Policy response to obesity in UK Policymakers should take a fundamental approach to curbing the obesity epidemic, which means that the policy should be aimed at addressing social inequality in public health. The primary method used focuses on individual behaviour to curb obesity. The strategy can be said to be ineffective since it does not address the social inequalities that lead to obesity in UK. The system focus on individual means that only the individual with social capital can manage obesity epidemic. Though the policy makers argue that obesity is caused as a result of individual’s health behavior, it should be noted the choices one makes are influenced in a larger environment as indicated by Bourdieu. The policymakers in public health in relation to addressing obesity should seek to address sociocultural, behavioural, and environmental factors that influence the excessive intake of caloric such as the fast food chains. The fast food chains are owned by individuals who have power and capital capable of influencing ideologies making it difficult for authorities to formulate policies that are of public interest. It would be prudent that legislative laws are made cautioning individuals that excessive consumption of such food, they risk been obese. It is an inequality that people in lower class have to endure since they are not advised by policy makers the risk of consuming such foods that have a high content of calories. 5.0. The current policies addressing obesity There are no clear policies formulated in UK to tackle obesity and address social inequality surrounding obesity, the policies put in place are mere recommendations from various reports. The government has resulted to take some actions in solving the obesity epidemic from some recommendations, but have not implemented them into laws. The first step they have embarked is to create awareness encouraging people to eat and drink healthier, and engage in physical exercising. The actions involve labelling foods on the basis of calorie content, as well as businesses in the high street. It should be noted that this is only an awareness, but the government should formulate laws and regulation. A foresight report ‘Tackling Obesities: Future Choices should be implemented, the report was published in 2011, and it revealed shocking details regarding obesity. One of the key action that is recommended is that the whole society should be engaged in the reduction of obesity levels. The policies formulated are jus but recommendations as stated earlier, and the government should legislate them into laws. This will ensure that social inequality regarding obesity is tackled with finality towards eradication of the epidemic in UK. References: Canoy D and Buchan I (2007). Challenges in obesity epidemiology. Obes Rev. 8 (Suppl 1):1-11. 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