Big is beautiful: Health and well-being in Pacific communities
Research on obesity and its implications for health and well-being has been a global focus. However, this examination has often overlooked the unique perspective of intracultural Pasifika communities. In New Zealand, Pacific Islanders are one such community. For Pasifika diaspora communities, obesit...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2024
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| In: |
Dialog
Year: 2024, Volume: 63, Issue: 4, Pages: 191-197 |
| IxTheo Classification: | KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KBS Australia; Oceania NBC Doctrine of God NCH Medical ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Image of God
B big is beautiful B Pacific B obesogenic environment B health and well-being B body norm |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Research on obesity and its implications for health and well-being has been a global focus. However, this examination has often overlooked the unique perspective of intracultural Pasifika communities. In New Zealand, Pacific Islanders are one such community. For Pasifika diaspora communities, obesity is a common precursor to poor health outcomes. As a result, my research has honed in on the social, cultural, and economic factors contributing to obesity in these cohorts. The practical implications of this study underscore the urgent need for culturally sensitive intervention programs that respect and work within the cultural norms of these communities aimed at alleviating this condition. This emphasis on cultural sensitivity is crucial for understanding and addressing the issue. My research delves into the emic perceptions of what “Big” entails, particularly within intracultural Pasifika communities. I explore contemporary conceptions and their implications for health and well-being. I argue that Pasifika churches, as socio-cultural villages, have the potential to transform into safe, healthy spaces for their people. This transformation could significantly reduce the prevalence of an obesogenic environment and contribute to improved mental and physical health for the population. This optimistic perspective, which highlights the potential for positive change, guides my exploration of a relevant recommendation for the issue at hand. |
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| ISSN: | 1540-6385 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Dialog
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/dial.12863 |
