Effects of Socio-economic Status on Nutrition - Coursework Example

Impacts of Socio-economic Status on Nutrition Section March 2007 Effects of Socio-economic Status on Nutrition Introduction Socio-economic status (SES) has been one of the most critical factors that determine the overall nutrition of an individual or a particular social class. The health and nutrition of those belonging to the lower socio-economic groups in Britain have been more prevalent than before. Although various complex processes can be put to blame in this social dilemma, recent studies link socio-economic status, nutrition and social policies as the intertwined factors that encompass the current state of society. [you could still add some more on this part] The Relationship of Health and Nutrition The concept of health and nutrition has often been interchanged in various textbooks and literature. In an attempt to clearly delineate both concepts, health is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (1947) as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” On the other hand, Wikipedia (2007) suggests that health “can be defined negatively, as the absence of illness, functionally, as the ability to cope with everyday activities, or positively, as fitness and well-being.” In some cases, health refers to homeostasis, a state of balance made possible by the inputs and outputs of energy and matter in equilibrium. Meanwhile, nutrition entails the need to take in and utilise food and other nourishing materials that is necessary to maintain the body. It is comprised of a three-part process: (1) the consumption of food and drink; (2) the breaking down of food and drinks into simpler compounds or simply called nutrients; and (3) the nutrients are then transported through the bloodstream into the different parts of the body where these are used as “fuel” for various metabolic processes of the body (St Jude, 2007). Medically speaking, it is also being referred to the “study of organic process by which an organism assimilates and uses food and liquids for normal functiong, growth and maintenance and to maintain the balance between health and disease” (Wikipedia, 2007). It would be safe to assume that any health imbalance such as diseases, difference in one’s state of physical, mental, and social well-being are caused by poor nutrition, or other related nutritional imbalances. Health and nutrition go hand in hand in determining the overall physical condition of an individual across all ages, particularly in one’s lifestyle and habits – such as eating patterns, playing sports, smoking, drinking, and other physical activities. Although there are still many gaps in the knowledge of this relationship, the fact cannot be denied that health and nutrition relates to different aspects of nutrition, from nutrient intake to types of foods, meal patterns, energy intake), and nutritional status such as, in medical terms, energy balance, body composition, and the like. In a report to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) by Callens and Seiffert (2003), the authors emphasised other pertinent aspects to health-nutrition relationship such as: (1) physical activity, development and work capacity; (2) mental activity, development and educational performance; and (3) social behaviour and cultural practices. For purposes of discussion, the terms health and nutrition are used interchangeably to refer to the physical condition of an individual. Measures of Socio-economic Status Before one could substantially categorize the socio-economic status of a society, there is a need to take into account two constructs in determining the socio-economic status of an individual. According to Higgs (2002), the two constructs may be understood in terms of (1) the levels of aggregation and (2) income versus expenditure variables. Also referred to the unit of measurement, levels of aggregation may be collectively identified as an individual, a household, the neighbourhood or suburb, a village, town or city, or even a country. In healthcare services, a patient is being asked for his address simply because the hospital would most likely help hospitals in determining his or her socio-economic status, particularly in terms of geo-demographic segmentation. On the other hand, another construct that can be utilised is the income versus expenditure variables. It can either be in terms of an individual’s actual income level, potential income level on a basis of one’s education and occupation, and income expenditures (shopping patterns, type of housing, etc.) among others. Using these two constructs, socio-economic status could be easily linked with a person’s well- being and the degree of urbanisation. The higher the level of aggregation, the more a person is linked with urbanisation – hence the level of expenditures becomes more and more complex. On the other hand, measurement of a person’s well-being suggest the manner in which an individual or a family fare well on his or her possession of consumer durables, housing and neighbourhood conditions, as well as the ability to meet certain basic needs. Social Class Differences and Nutrition According to James, et. al. (1997), modern nutritional experts suggest that socio-economic status (SES) has a direct effect on the dietary and activity patterns. In an annual food survey conducted for 7,000 British households, results showed that compared with the highest income group, lower income groups consumed more milk, meat and meat products, fats, sugar and preserves, potatoes, cereals. However, the study specifically indicated that the milk consumed was less semi-skimmed milk while the meat and meat products contained higher fat meat products. Meanwhile, there was less consumption of vitamins, minerals and fibres coming from vegetables and fruits. In this regard, there was lesser intake of nutrients for lower income groups. Given such data, it only proves to show that there is a growing disparity between the rich and the poor, not only in economic terms but more importantly in terms of nutritional gains. Unbalanced eating patterns and inactive lifestyles have made European people more prone to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, pan-European epidemic in obesity, osteoporosis and other micronutrient deficiencies like iron and iodine. In the same study, results also obviously suggested that low income households also had lower levels of home purchases as compared to high income groups. On the other hand, a restriction in food spending, particularly for those who allocate 20% of their income on rent and fuel, also lowered the nutrient intake (for iron, calcium, fibre, folate and vitamin C) of individuals who participated in the test. Households who belonged in the bottom tenth of the income distribution spend at least 29% of their disposable income on food while those belonging in the top ten only spend at about 18% of their disposable income (Figure 1). Further analysis of the SES of the experimental households implied that despite that fact that lower income bracket groups spent at least 29% of their disposable income, families with children spend very low while a lone parent family only spends at about £1.64/person/day (Figure 2). But with low income spending, the study also emphasised that lower socio-economic groups buy more efficiently as compared to high income households. By efficiency, it meant that low income bracket groups were more inclined to purchase foods richer in energy or those high in fat and sugar in order to satisfy their hunger as compared to highly digestible fruits and vegetables. Food Insecurity and Sustainable Development The examples previously given were only a few of the numerous impacts of socio-economic status on one’s nutrition. However, one of its long-term effects is food insecurity not only in Third World countries but as well as in First World countries like Britain. Social class difference in a given location is an incredible factor in determining the overall physical and nutritional condition of an individual. Indeed, there is an urgent need for each and every developed, developing, and underdeveloped nation to take a stand on the issue at hand. The growing concern for food security has become more urgent as each day goes by. With such basic argument, the principles and practices of sustainable development must be carefully adhered upon, notwithstanding the questions raised on the issue, in order to alleviate, if not fully eliminate, the damages society has caused to nature. Sustainable development is defined as a “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987). Henceforth, utilisation of food must not only be deemed beneficial for the present generation but it must also continuously replenish so that society’s future grandchildren. However, the definition of sustainable development would only be deemed feasible and applicable if all sectors of society would join forces in order to attain one common goal: food security. Food security must not only encompass the need for ecologically soundness, it must also be able to meet the remaining four (of the five) dimensions (or also called indicators) of sustainable development (Zamora, et. al, 2002): a) Economic viability – food supply should meet the needs of the people in a wide range of food selection, thus enabling nutrition an arm’s reach within various sectors of society. b) Ecological soundness – nutrition could only be safely attained if food sources do not adhere to the use of chemical inputs of food production, while maintaining the integrity of the environment for future generations to come. c) Socially just and humane – man and society should respect the fact that there is a need to regulate social responsibility in food utilisation, health and nutrition. d) Cultural ly appropriate – food and nutrition should respect the location- and context-specific cultures of different societies. e) Grounded on holistic science – man should scientifically and cautiously consider the interrelationships and interaction of all the aforementioned aspects, above anything else. Not much literature has been published on social-economic status, health, nutrition, food security and sustainable development. Most materials related to this issue propose the integration of one’s socio-economic status with the quality of environment, urbanisation and the satisfaction of one’s needs in order to respond to the need for a more suitable yet feasible nutritional status. However, such schemes would not be deemed possible if not for a concrete social policy, methodologies and implementing guidelines that would help support such theoretical framework. Meanwhile, social policies would not be deemed feasible if not for a structural society that would support the nutritional needs of the lower income groups while being able to efficiently allocate resources. The fact must be considered that social differentiation in today’s society further increases the likelihood of selecting unhealthy food choices, as brought about by unhealthy lifestyles and other behavioural and psycho-social characteristics that have a negative impact on health. This an ultimate challenge that must be taken into serious thought as this is not only prevalent in Europe but most especially in developing and underdeveloped nations who strive to live even for at most one meal a day. Conclusion Evidences suggest that despite the complexity of the issue at hand, policy-makers must carefully and continuously consider the fact that there is an urgent need to reduce, if not fully tighten, the gap between the socially deprived and the socially advantaged members of society. Indeed, socio-economic status plays a crucial role in maintaining the lifestyle and basic needs of today’s modern urban, and for some rural, society. Hopefully, through the concept of food security and sustainable development, socio-economic status would no longer be a determining factor towards one’s nutritional needs. References World Health Organisation (WHO). 1946, Preamble to the constitution of the World Health Organisation. International Health Conference, New-York. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 2007, Definition of Nutrition, Retrieved from website: . Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 2007, Definition of Health, Retrieved from website: . Callens, K. and Seiffert B. 2003, METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE: Participatory Appraisal of Nutrition and Household Food Security Situations and Planning of Interventions from a Livelihoods Perspective, Food and Agriculture Organisation. World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). 1987, Our Common Future, Oxford University Press, New York. Zamora, O. B. 2002, Sustainable Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines. St Jude. org. 2007, Definition of Nutrition, Retrieved March 2007 from website: . Read More