Perspectives on health and wellness through food in Belize's Stann Creek district
Abstract
This study evaluates the role that health plays in shaping individual food choices in Belize's Stann Creek district using a biocultural approach with a political economic perspective. Fieldwork was conducted over an eight week period in Belize with the two primary sites being an inland Mopan Maya village and a coastal historically Kriol fishing village. Methods included participant observation, anthropometric measurements, and semi-structured interviews regarding food preference, food access, and health knowledge. Height, weight, BMI, and waist circumferences were used as proxy measures of health status, finding 41.94% of the sample obese. There were no significant differences across most groups tested, showing that the rates of obesity and related health risks were equally prevalent across the sample. Access to foods like brown rice and vegetables, though known to be healthy, were limited for most, because of cost and local availability. Health concerns play a limited role in food choice with other contributing influences being included accessibility, individual preference, familiarity, and cultural significance.
Degree
M.S.
Advisors
Williams, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Cultural anthropology|Nutrition|Health education
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