In a time of digital advancements and unprecedented prosperity, many of the world’s nations have fallen victim to the not-so-nice side effects of modernity. With all the gadgets and gizmos of the 21st century, people of all walks of life are becoming more and more stagnant and lazy. This has lead to an increase in obesity in many countries and has expedited the associated demand for medical attention.
One contribution is the automobile industry. Thousands of automobiles are produced everyday in the United States, Germany, Italy, and Japan, which provide ease and accessibility for many people. This differs from a time when more people walked everywhere and when being active out of doors was much more commonplace. Do not get me wrong, cars have proven their worth, but they also come with a price on health. Instead of standing and exercising, cars allow people to sit whilst they travel. Also, the emissions from cars have caused major respiratory problems in highly populated areas and have been associated with the global warming crisis.
Another aspect is the rise of the fast food industry outside of the U.S., from whence it originated. Fast food chains such as McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) have emerged in placed like Japan and the Middle East. The average number of calories in a hamburger is 550, which for an average 150 pound person is one third of their basal metabolism. One third! That is a huge number of calories to consume at one time. Add to that fries and a soft drink and a person could have well over half of their daily calories in less than an hour. This in combination with the stagnant lifestyles many people lead results in weight gain and health concerns.
It is not too surprising that the United States is the largest country in the world. People size that is. It is estimated that 30 percent of the American population is obese and two thirds are considered overweight. This is due to the extravagant proportions in our meals and sedentary lifestyles. Although we lead the world in this pandemic, many other countries are beginning to show more signs that they are not as slim as they once were.
Countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have climbed the ranks of obese states, the cause of which has been pointed to rising socio-economic standings and traditions. Qatar is ranked sixth in the world for prevalent obesity. It has the highest ranking of obesity in boys in the Middle East and Maghreb. Saudi Arabia is ranked in the top twenty states.
One such tradition is that food brings people together. Families often eat together and eat often. Friends will offer food to those who come to their house and it is considered impolite to refuse any of it. This presents a Catch-22 for many people; they want to polite and thus eat, but then are very full and cannot eat anymore. This dilemma opens the door for obesity, which has begun to take a stronger hold in the state. However, this tradition is a direct counter against the effects of globalization because the Qatari wish to maintain their cultural identity and continue living as they have done for many centuries.
And yet, the effects of globalization slowly seep into the country. With all its wealth from the oil industry, states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been able to rise in socio-economic strength in a relatively short amount of time. Hence, many of the urban areas have begun to open fast food chains like McDonalds and KFCs. Combined with the existing mentality of constant eating, the number of calories a person would take in by eating at the fast food locations would be enormous. Ironically, so will their bodies.
Another factor in the obesity concerns is the climate of the Middle East. In the summer months it can reach a humid 110 degrees. This has pushed many Saudis and Qataris to resort to automobiles for travel. With the wealth many people have and the accessibility to the car industry, more people own cars and use them for recreation and personal transportation.
The last tradition that has caused concern is families marrying cousins together. This practice has long been known to increase the probability of genetic disorders and mental disabilities. But, clinging to cultural identity, many families do not want to see things change and wish to keep their family lines close. Therefore, when all of the factors are added up (heavy habitual eating, marital traditions, unhealthy food choices, and lazy modes of transportation) the resulting obesity is not quite very inconspicuous. And it has not gone unnoticed by many medical professionals, who are working to change some of people’s traditional habits.
Medical professionals are now working on programs that will shift the focus from treating obesity to preventative measures. Many Middle Eastern students have come to the U.S to receive training in working with new preventative programs and to learn how to handle the disabilities factor that goes along with obesity. Sadly, they represent a minority of the people in the Middle Eastern countries who wish to see their people return to healthy Body Mass Indexes (BMI) and learn how to balance the new ideas of the advanced technological world with the established traditions of their cultural identity. Only time will tell if these progressive ideas come to fruition in both the Middle East and elsewhere affected by this pandemic.
Kellye Tamura
30 April 2010
In response to "Wealth and Tradition Pull Qatar Towards Unhealthy Choices" (27 April 2010)
Greeley, Colo.
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