Multicultural Wellness Perspectives

Survey about perspectives on nutrition, physical activity, and weight/body image

This survey is for a research project for a course from the National Wellness Institute called "High Level Wellness through Multicultural Competency." I am focusing on 3 dominant culture biases in wellness: nutrition, physical activity, and weight/body image. I am stating the dominant culture's perspective and then asking non-dominant cultures (Black, LatinX, Indigenous, etc.) to take the survey to see how these perspectives affect them; and ask for suggestions for making our programs more diverse and inclusive of other cultures. For questions, please contact the student researcher, Debra Lafler at deblafler@gmail.com PLEASE FORWARD THIS SURVEY ON TO OTHERS YOU IDENTIFY AS "NOT WHITE" or "NON-DOMINANT" in the United States mainstream culture (this may be Black, LatinX, Indigenous, Other People of Color, Asian, Indian, or any other culture)

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* 1. WHO YOU ARE (no names needed): Please state your age, gender, and race/ethnicity (if you want to separate these into two different things, you can; for example: you can be a certain race, but identify with a different ethnicity, nationality, or culture). If comfortable sharing, please also include your sexual orientation, religion/spiritual beliefs, or anything else you feel is important to identify who you are.

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* 2. TOPIC OF NUTRITION (what to eat and how much): In the United States, the dominant (power) culture (white) perspective on nutrition uses the U.S. government's My Plate model (previous model was the Food Pyramid); as are the specific types of foods suggested, portions, ways to prepare, images of foods and recipes, and the daily schedule. These are all based on the white perspective (which has developed from a white, European, mostly Northern European heritage).................. They also emphasize an individual "choice" perspective on eating (as if we all each are deciding our foods each day, outside of family, culture or environment).................. These perspective also influences the field of medicine (and its research and findings), public health, and education. .................Lastly, the pitch for nutrition, or why we should eat they way they say, is "health" (because it is healthy) and "weight" management (because it will help you lose or maintain your weight).................. QUESTION: From your perspective, what impact has this had on you and those in your culture? Have you found the nutritional recommendations helpful or harmful or both? Do they speak to your culture or make you feel different? Do they attract you or turn you off? What would you suggest we do to make nutrition recommendations more diverse, and inclusive of other cultures? And/or please include any thoughts, comments or suggestions about the topic of nutrition as it relates to what you have experienced.

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* 3. TOPIC OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (how we move and how much we move): In the United States, the dominant (power) culture (white) perspective on physical activity focuses primarily on formal exercise (a specific type of organized movement with a skill set), and fitness shape (being "in-shape" or "out of shape") related to performance (ability, endurance, speed, strength, and flexibility)............... The perspective also includes what types of physical activity are suggested (running, biking, swimming, weight training, fitness classes), what intensity to do them at (getting your heart rate up), and how long to do them (20-60 minutes), and so on.............. It also emphasizes an individual "choice" perspective on physical activity (as if we each personally choose to do "exercise" alone). And while team sports are encouraged, and part of the culture, the physical activity guidelines for us, and what is promoted, is largely individual............. Lastly, the pitch for why we should exercise is "health" (because it's healthy) and "weight" management (because it helps us lose or maintain weight). They may mention mental health benefits, but usually, the focus is on the body - with health and weight................. QUESTION: From your perspective, what impact have these physical activity recommendations had on you and your culture? Are these perspectives helpful or harmful or both? Do they speak to your culture, or make you feel different? Do they attract you or turn you off? And what would you suggest to make physical activity suggestions more diverse and inclusive of other cultures? And/or please include any other thoughts, comments or suggestions on the topic of physical activity as it relates to what you have experienced.

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* 4. TOPIC OF WEIGHT AND BODY IMAGE: In the United States, the dominant (power) culture (white) perspective on weight and body image is based on measures like body mass index (BMI) (a calculation of your weight, based on your height) which classifies people as underweight, healthy, overweight, obese, and extremely obese; or body fat percentage scoring, which classifies people as lean, ideal, average, and above average ..........The white culture also tends to view fatness (their definition of fatness using BMI and body fat as standards) as laziness, weakness, and unattractive......... The culture also tends to treat people differently based on their size........ Because of these things, if anyone is considered "fat" in the United States, their body image (how they feel about their body) is often affected negatively (not liking their body, thinking its ugly or not attractive, or covering up when going out; or not attempting to do things like date or jobs, because of weight)..................... Weight, like nutrition and physical activity, is also seen as an individual "choice" (as if the individual is personally responsible and should be held accountable for their weight)................. Lastly, the pitch for weight loss/management is for "health" (because it is healthy)...............QUESTION: From your perspective, are these perspectives helpful or harmful or both? Do they speak to your culture, or make you feel different? Do they attract you or turn you off? And what would you suggest to make weight (body size) recommendations, and one's body image (how we feel about our bodies), more diverse and inclusive of other cultures?