The applied approach of medical anthropology involves anthropologists’ research directly with interviews, participant observation, and focus groups. Many times anthropologist work for governments, advocacy groups, tribal and ethnic organizations, etc. Anthropologist using this approach consider factors other than biomedical ones, to improve their results, such as cultural impacts.
It is important to consider these outside factors that doctors would not take into consideration, when looking at Obesity. For instance, lets look at an obese culture like the united states. The United States has a high percentage of people living with obesity. When educated they know that they have to eat healthier and incorporate more fruits and veggies in their diet. However, there are things called food deserts that applied anthropologist would consider, as to why these many people are living this way that most medicine doctors would overlook. Food deserts are impacting the way people eat causing them to become obese. By directly studying patients and interviewing them, they can find out why they can find out many things. For instance, what their diets are, where they are getting their food, why they are eating like this, and more. With this information, anthropologist can figure out what barriers are keeping these people from changing their food habits, like food deserts. Food deserts are where there are no local supermarkets to find healthy food options. These places have more or less just gas stations and little corner stores with no access to produce. According to this graph, more than 10 percent of people in the dark burgundy colors live in food deserts. You can see this trend is prominent in the East side of the nation and the South.
To help prevent Obesity in the United States, the First Lady came up with a program called “Let’s Move”. It is a program directed at young children and their families because one in every three children are obese or overweight. The program is dedicated to providing families with helpful information and ensuring that everyone has access to healthy food choices, which I think is a huge factor that applied anthropologist look at. It’s most important to understand that medical anthropologist look at every factor there is to look at such as environment, epidemiology, culture, and social influences. Whereas, a doctor does not usually have the time to consider all of these other factors.
It is important to consider these outside factors that doctors would not take into consideration, when looking at Obesity. For instance, lets look at an obese culture like the united states. The United States has a high percentage of people living with obesity. When educated they know that they have to eat healthier and incorporate more fruits and veggies in their diet. However, there are things called food deserts that applied anthropologist would consider, as to why these many people are living this way that most medicine doctors would overlook. Food deserts are impacting the way people eat causing them to become obese. By directly studying patients and interviewing them, they can find out why they can find out many things. For instance, what their diets are, where they are getting their food, why they are eating like this, and more. With this information, anthropologist can figure out what barriers are keeping these people from changing their food habits, like food deserts. Food deserts are where there are no local supermarkets to find healthy food options. These places have more or less just gas stations and little corner stores with no access to produce. According to this graph, more than 10 percent of people in the dark burgundy colors live in food deserts. You can see this trend is prominent in the East side of the nation and the South.
To help prevent Obesity in the United States, the First Lady came up with a program called “Let’s Move”. It is a program directed at young children and their families because one in every three children are obese or overweight. The program is dedicated to providing families with helpful information and ensuring that everyone has access to healthy food choices, which I think is a huge factor that applied anthropologist look at. It’s most important to understand that medical anthropologist look at every factor there is to look at such as environment, epidemiology, culture, and social influences. Whereas, a doctor does not usually have the time to consider all of these other factors.
References:
"Let's Move." Resources. 2014. Accessed June 29, 2015.
"Shop2Care - Changing Lives One Purchase at a Time." Shop2Care- Changing Lives One Purchase at a Time. 2014. Accessed June 29, 2015.
"Let's Move." Resources. 2014. Accessed June 29, 2015.
"Shop2Care - Changing Lives One Purchase at a Time." Shop2Care- Changing Lives One Purchase at a Time. 2014. Accessed June 29, 2015.