According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), social relationships are important predictors of a range of individual outcomes, such as well-being and health. These social relationships can be categorized as interpersonal forms of social support, identification with groups, or social capital. In this article, I want to briefly explore the relationship between social capital and obesity.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the rate of obesity in the United States is approximately 41.9%, which is up from 30.5% since 2017. During that time, the rate of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%. These numbers matter as obesity is a major factor in conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Much of which is preventable. In addition, it is estimated that the medical cost of obesity was almost $173 billion in 2019 and that 1 in 3 children will likely become a diabetic in their lifetime if this trend continues.
The public is making some effort to control obesity, as is evidenced by the popularity of low-carb diets, the popularity of nutritional supplements, and the enormous influence of the fitness industry on social media. Unfortunately, these fads have not stopped the rise in obesity, even considering the US weight loss market is expected to reach $93.8 billion this year.
The number of potential contributing factors to the high incidence of obesity among the American population is considerable. Though there exists an abundance of statistical data regarding the obesity epidemic, there is no information that is conclusive in naming a cause. Research suggests that obesity is a complex issue and that its causes may be social, environmental, biological, or, more likely, a combination of all three.
The American lifestyle has changed considerably over the last century, creating an abundance of high-calorie, low-nutrient food. This food is relatively inexpensive in relation to income levels and environmental cues such as the constant barrage by advertisers continually influence eating habits. So, it is no surprise when the acronym for the Standard American Diet is SAD.
In addition, communities are not designed to be fitness-friendly and do little to encourage an active lifestyle. Neighborhoods are divided into zones that are strictly residential or commercial. This has created the need to drive most places, especially in rural areas, and minimizes walking or using bicycles in everyday activities such as going to work or grocery shopping.
Regarding activity, Americans walk approximately 5,300 steps per day. This number is significantly lower than the 10,000 daily steps many health organizations recommend. In contrast, the Amish, a group that lives with very little automation, walks 14,000-18,000 steps per day, which likely contributes to their extremely low obesity rates of almost 0% in men and 9% in women. The addition of something as simple as walking an additional mile per day and eliminating processed foods may be the answer to reversing the entire obesity epidemic, and it may be the key to tipping the trend in the opposite direction.
The abundance of high-calorie food, coupled with decreased levels of physical activity, has caused an almost inescapable movement toward societal weight gain and obesity-related disease. Social capital, a term that is rarely associated with obesity, ties in well with reduced activity levels. Just a generation or two ago, Americans interacted considerably more than today. Television was watched far less because few channels were available, and computers and cell phones were not available to the general public. People enjoyed entertainment through organized sports leagues and social gatherings instead of virtually, through email and texting. This social interaction also stimulated dialogue and change. People of previous generations were more involved with community matters and physically gathered more frequently to discuss important current issues. Unfortunately, this involvement is decreasing with each successive generation. So, by doing a few simple things, such as reconnecting with our family, friends, and neighbors, walking more, and cooking real food from scratch, we can make a major shift in the fight against obesity.
