Que Gordita

Emily Massara

Average overall obesity of Puerto Rican woman is 19.4% higher than Puerto Rican Males

Woman under 25 have a 13.3% rate of obesity

Women 26 to 39 have a 60.6% rate of obesity

Why the increase?

- cultural factors related to marriage

-cultural factors related to perception

-cultural factors which decided how stress is channeled

-Migration

-attitudes of how physical appearance reflects health

-Self preservation

Cultural Factors Related to Marriage

1. weight gain reflects the husbands ability as a breadwinner 2.Gaining 15 to 20 lbs is seen as increasing shapeliness (good

thing) and reflects vitality and health 3. Excelling in the role of a good wife will lead to increased

exposure to food 4. Expanding Family: food represents nuturing and care of

family, increased food preparation, weight gain can result from skipping breakfast

5. Pregnancy: restraint in eating seen as something that will harm the child

Cutural Factors Related to Perception

Heaviness is of little negative social consequence

Heaviness = Tranquility

Study on perceptions of women weighing 45% more than medical ideals

10.5 % classify women as too heavy

15.3% classify women as regular

35.9% classify women as plump

Conforming to medical ideals creates appearance which is incompatible with the Puerto Rican ideal wife and mother

Cultural norms contribute to how individuals channel stress

Cope with stress by overeating Often attribute weight gain to use of

tranquilizers (heaviness = tranquility) Eating is one of the least strict areas of

life for older Puerto Rican woman This can lead to severe obesity!

MigrationGiven the association of heaviness with

health, women may gain weight as an

antidote to illness associated with colder

climates

The association of heaviness with

tranquility might encourage woman to aspire to gain weight in new country

Body Image: What is Healthy?

All the heavy women in the study conducted by Massara suffered from diseases such as diabetes and hypertension

Relationship between food and health not recognized or ignored because: Disease kept under control by meds Cultural idea that heaviness and zest for life are

indicators of good health and conversely that weight loss indicates poor health

Self Preservation

Culturally defined obesity may help to neutralize power that men have over women Obesity leads to perception of woman as assexual

Results in vibrant social life without suspicions of sexual infidelity

How to treat obesity among Puerto Rican women Family must be involved with doctor and weight

loss process Behavior modification rather than alter food

choices Exercise will encourage weight loss and provide

outlet for stress

Method

Use western measurements (etic) to quantify cultural norms and ideals (emic)

Massara feels this is a good strategy to deal with health problems in ethnic communities