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Humans need to obtain nutrients from foods in order to survive and be healthy. The requirements of energy and nutrients are different due to differences in race, age, sex, and physical activity level. People living in different places take nutrients from different kinds of food; therefore, nutrition is a cultural biological process rather than a si...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... China, rice is usually the staple food for people living in the south of China, while food made of wheat flour such as steamed bread, bread, and buns is the staple for people living in the north (Fig. 2). Even when travelling or moving to a foreign country, people tend to eat the food which eating usually as the first choice. Many Chinese people in foreign countries, even after years of migration, still maintain the habit of eating Chinese food, which is very diffi- cult to ...Citations
... Between 2014 to 2021, China's economy developed from highspeed growth to high-quality development, and the per capita disposable income of the population showed a yearly growth (23). The eating and consumption habits of Chinese residents have experienced great changes (24). It is manifested that refined grain consumption significantly decreased, whereas coarse grain consumption increased (25). ...
The incidence of hyperuricemia is on the rise in China, primarily due to dietary habits. However, limited data exists regarding dietary purine intake in the country. This study aimed to estimate the daily dietary purine intake among Chinese residents from 2014 to 2021 and evaluate the temporal trend using joinpoint regression analysis. The analysis revealed an annual percentage change (APC) of 0.8% (95% CI: 0.1–1.5%) in dietary purine intake prior to the joinpoint (2014–2019). Following the joinpoint (2019–2021), the APC significantly increased to 6.5% (95% CI: 3.3–9.8%), indicating a noteworthy upward trend (p = 0.045). Furthermore, the average daily purine intake varied significantly among different regions of China, with the southern region showing the highest dietary intake of purines. Considering the diverse contributions of various food sources to dietary purine intake, it was observed that meat consumption had the greatest impact, accounting for 36.2% of purine intake, followed by cereals consumption (25.3%) and vegetables and edible fungi (24.2%). These findings hold significance for dietary intervention and management strategies aimed at reducing purine intake among the population.
... Several studies have used the ecological footprint (EF) to estimate the land demand [30,31], in which Li pointed out that with the expansion of urbanization, the proportion of residents consuming food away from home increased, leading to a nearly 33-fold increase (44,440 ha) in the total EF in this sector from 2002 to 2015. Additionally, the vast territory and significant regional cultural differences in China contribute to variations in natural resource endowment, economic levels, and customs, resulting in differences in dietary habits, cultural backgrounds, and nutritional emphases among Chinese residents [32][33][34]. Thus, the food consumption patterns of Chinese residents exhibit substantial diversity among provinces, with their dietary structures often displaying imbalances. ...
The conflict between economic growth and the arable land demand poses a significant challenge to maintaining food security and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, substantial regional disparities in food consumption contribute to variations in land demand, further exacerbating constraints on food security. However, few studies have delved into regional differences in land demand related to food consumption. To bridge these gaps, this study estimated the arable land demand and associated pressures, considering food consumption patterns and the land footprint across 31 provincial districts in China. The findings reveal that grains remain the primary crop consumed by Chinese residents. Notably, the food consumption pattern exhibits substantial disparities among provincial districts, particularly concerning livestock products. Given China's vast population and escalating consumption of livestock, the country demonstrates heightened land demands. While China does not face a national-level food security threat, regional disparities are evident, with eight provincial districts facing potential food security risks. This study explored the challenges and pathways in maintaining food security and the visions to achieve it, emphasizing the importance of sustaining a balanced food consumption pattern, reducing food waste, improving environmentally friendly agriculture practices, formulating effective and continuous laws and regulations, and exploring potential land resource development to alleviate the pressure on arable land and ensure food security.
... The mechanisms were not yet clear, but the reasons might be as follows: First, patients' dietary structure changed after surgery. There were some studies suggesting a correlation existed between the composition of the diet and hyperuricemia [23][24][25] . Meat and poultry could contribute to elevated UA 26 . ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) combined with hyperuricemia remitted 1 year after CRC surgery. CRC patients combined with hyperuricemia who underwent radical surgery were included from a single clinical center from Jan 2016 to Dec 2021. Baseline characteristics was compared between the remission group and the non-remission group. Multivariate logistic regression was used to find the possible predictive factors of hyperuricemia remission. A total of 91 patients were included for data analysis, retrospectively. There were 34 (37.4%) patients in the remission group and 57 (62.6%) patients in the non-remission group. The mean preoperative weight and body mass index (BMI) were 61.2 ± 10.7 (kg) and 24.1 ± 3.3 (kg/m²). 21 (23.1%) patients had a history of drinking. We found that the weight and BMI were not significantly different before and 1 year after CRC surgery (P > 0.05). In contrast, uric acid values were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the outcomes showed there were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the remission and non-remission groups (P > 0.05). According to multivariate logistic regression, we found that the history of drinking was a predictive factor of hyperuricemia remission (OR = 0.046, 95% CI 0.005–0.475, P = 0.010). CRC patients with hyperuricemia had a 37.4% remission from hyperuricemia 1 year after CRC surgery. Tumor location, tumor stage, and tumor size did not predict the remission of hyperuricemia. Notably, the history of drinking was a predictive factor of hyperuricemia remission.
... However, many studies exploring food culture in three provinces of South China often overlook the social function of food (8)(9)(10). Ma believes that the social functions of food in the world generally include establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, expressing the degree of interpersonal relationships, representing social status, explaining group characteristics, celebrating important events, holding symbolic significance, and use as reward or punishment (11), but this study did not focus on South China, and the research on food sociality in the three provinces of South China is still missing. In addition, through reviewing literature, we found that the occurrence of chronic diseases and some special diseases in three provinces of South China may be related to the sociality of their food (12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate food sociality in three provinces of South China, and explain under which conditions and activities the food sociality will emerge, to provide theoretical and practical evidence of food sociality in this region, to reduce the gap between South China and the rest of the world in the interpretation of food culture, and to provide recommended diet-related policies and interventions if necessary. ...
Background
Food sociality refers to the exploration of food production, exchange, distribution, and consumption and influences on cultural communication and social meaning. This study aimed to investigate food sociality in three provinces of South China to provide theoretical and practical evidence of food sociality in the region and to revise nutrition policies.
Materials and methods
We conducted a qualitative study comprising 25 experts in the fields of nutrition, sociology, food science, and agriculture from Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi Province by using a semi-structured in-depth interview, which included 28 pre-determined questions covering six topics. The interviews were conducted between November 2020 and March 2021. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed thematically using NVivo 11.0.
Results
Of the 25 experts, the mean age was 50.6 (SD = 8.4) years, 15 (60%) were male, and 22 (88%) held a master's degree or above. The analysis showed that food sociality in three provinces of South China mainly comprises social functions of food and dietary behavior. Regarding social functions of food, the experts expressed that food represents local culture (72%, 18 experts), presents social status and economic power (40%, 10 experts), and is central to special occasions, traditional customs, and etiquette activities (60%, 15 experts). In terms of social functions of dietary behaviors, the majority of experts indicated that food is a social communication tool (72% experts), has geographical characteristics (80% experts), and, to some extent, is used as a proxy for reward or punishment. Furthermore, festivals are one of the core elements of food sociality in the region, although food safety is a major concern. Some dietary behaviors, such as overindulgence in afternoon tea and encouraging drinking, may increase the risk of chronic diseases.
Conclusion
Food sociality in three provinces of South China is mainly related to the social function of food and dietary behavior. It is a combination of local culture, social status and economic power, traditional customs, rewards and punishments, geographical food preference, and social communication tools. The authors recommend increasing food safety at festivals and promoting healthy eating behaviors in order to improve the overall health of the population in this region.
... Economics, politics, culture and several other issues may impact on eating process. Hence, nutrition is a social, cultural and biological procedure, not a mere functional and biochemical process (Ma, 2015). It could be said that food is a way for recognising cultural, social and national identities (Scholliers, 2001). ...
The media exposure has permeated all cultural features of societies; and since communication is in a close relation with cultural customs, it has a deep effect on people's beliefs, attitudes and knowledge. Television plays a significant part in creating and introducing culture and lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the cultural values reflection on the national and international Persian TV cooking programs. The research method of this study was based on cross-cultural qualitative content analysis approach. In this research, data were analysed based on the method of Mayring (1983). To collect data, TV cooking programs from local and international Persian networks were selected as samples, which are explained in the research methodology section. The results showed that the main contents of national TV cooking programs along with the presentation of food offered the culture of patriotism, the importance of religion, consumerism, and collectivism. The emphasized cultural contents of the national TV cooking programs were about globalism, religion reluctance, individualism, and activism.
... Many Chinese people in foreign countries, even after years of migration, still maintain the habit of eating Chinese food, which is very difficult to change (Ma, 2015). In the towns where Dodo Pizza launched, Chinese people wanted adapted versions of pizza, for example, with octopus and durian. ...
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have recently been discovered to function as catalysts for globalization. However, despite the increasing interest in the internationalization of SMEs, doing business in another country offers its own unique set of challenges that must be overcome if an SME’s international venture is to be successful. For sectors where operational efficiency is necessary and there are added pressures due to cultural differences in consumer behaviour (e.g., fast-food chains), managing the operations process is essential for ensuring success and growth. Furthermore, the export of the conventional business model becomes complicated because of the significant variations in brand localization requirements across nations, which force businesses to make significant changes to cater to local client preferences. Given this scenario, how can an SME identify and adjust the critical barriers towards deciding and acting on foreign market entry and exit?
To answer this question, we looked for a theoretical sample (case) of a business that successfully entered and operated in some markets and exited from others within the same period. In this investigation, we examine the Russian pizza company Dodo Pizza’s exodus from China and the UK as compared to their successful operations in Kazakhstan using Eisenhardt’s comparative case methodology. We use each country’s operations as a case in this research and apply Eisenhardt’s comparative case methodology to identify and theorize the factors of national context essential to the organization’s actions and outcomes in a given country.
... In spite of the cultural diversity within China, rice and wheaten food have been considered as the staple food (11). The belief in the consumption of hot food will provide more energy to the body especially during the winters and bring about better taste, has become the embodiment of traditional Chinese food culture (12). ...
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between eating speed and food temperature and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Chinese population.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2020 to March 2022 from the department of Endocrinology at the Shandong Provincial Hospital. All recruited participants were asked to complete structured questionnaires on their eating behaviors at the time of recruitment. Clinical demographic data such as gender, age, height, weight, familial history of T2DM, prevalence of T2DM and various eating behaviors were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations between eating behaviors and T2DM.
Results
A total of 1,040 Chinese adults were included in the study, including 344 people with T2DM and 696 people without T2DM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the general population showed that gender (OR = 2.255, 95% CI: 1.559–3.260, p < 0.001), age (OR = 1.091, 95% CI: 1.075–1.107, p < 0.001), BMI (OR = 1.238, 95% CI: 1.034–1.483, p = 0.020), familial history of T2DM (OR = 5.709, 95% CI: 3.963–8.224, p < 0.001), consumption of hot food (OR = 4.132, 95% CI: 2.899–5.888, p < 0.001), consumption of snacks (OR = 1.745, 95% CI: 1.222–2.492, p = 0.002), and eating speed (OR = 1.292, 95% CI:1.048–1.591, p = 0.016) were risk factors for T2DM.
Conclusion
In addition to traditional risk factors such as gender, age, BMI, familial history of T2DM, eating behaviors associated with Chinese culture, including consumption of hot food, consumption of snacks, and fast eating have shown to be probable risk factors for T2DM.
... Food plays a crucial role in social functions by establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships and representing social status as a group characteristic and during the celebration of special events [6]. Traditional foods have socio-cultural values behind their food value. ...
... Food, in addition to providing energy and nutrients, fulfills the basic needs for the continuation of life. The choice of food, especially ethnic food, plays a role in individual living because it is a symbolic marker of ethnicity in addition to symbolizing the level of relationships, representing social status, defining group characteristics, and celebrating important events and festivals (1,2). Ethnic food is inherited, and specific ethnic group has culture, traditions, and symbols. ...
Ethnic food refers to food originating from a specific ethnic group. The study identifies the knowledge and factors in Kadazandusun ethnic food selection among students at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). A total of 410 students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah were recruited as respondents through the snowball method. This quantitative study used questionnaires to collect data. The closed-ended questionnaire has four parts: demographics, knowledge, factors affecting food selection, and Kadazandusun ethnic food consumption intention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented as frequencies, percentages, and mean values to address the study aims. In this study, 46.8% of the respondents had low knowledge (scale of 0–50) about Kadazandusun ethnic food. As factors that influence food selection, the health factor with an average value of x= 3.39 ± 1.095 received a neutral response toward agreeing compared with the convenience factor (x= 3.17 ± 1.086), taste/sense of food (x= 3.12 ± 1.170), price(x= 3.17 ± 1.134), and habit (x= 2.55 ± 1.164). Therefore, awareness and ethnic food selection factors among students are still low. A mechanism that can promote ethnic food, especially among IPTA students, for sustainability, information dissemination, and consumption of traditional ethnic food, is needed so that it does not disappear.
... A key part of sabotage relates to eating behaviour, and some research has addressed the explicit and sometimes deliberate provision of food even when the other person is not hungry or trying to eat less which has been called 'Being a Feeder' [54••]. Research indicates that people feed others for many reasons including waste avoidance [55], as a sign of family love [56][57][58]; as a sign of wealth and status [59,60]; and a marker of power and control [61]. In line with this, Ogden, Cheung, and Stewart [62•] developed a new quantitative measurement tool to assess both the motivations behind feeder behaviour and the behaviour itself which consisted of six motivational subscales and one subscale to measure feeder behaviour. ...
Purpose of Review
Whilst research indicates the positive impact of social support across a number of health domains, including weight management, not all social support is beneficial.
Recent Findings
This paper reviews the evidence for both positive and negative social support in the context of behavioural interventions and surgery for obesity. It then presents a new model of negative social support focusing on sabotage (‘active and intentional undermining of another person’s weight goals’), feeding behaviour (‘explicit over feeding of someone when they are not hungry or wishing not to eat’), and collusion (‘passive and benign negative social support to avoid conflict’) which can be conceptualised within the context of relationships as systems and the mechanisms of homeostasis.
Summary
There is increasing evidence for the negative impact of social support. This new model could form the basis of further research and the development of interventions for family, friends, and partners to maximise weight loss outcomes.
