Significant Impact of High-Risk Nutritional Practices Among Cultures

Risky Health Behaviors
Name:
Institution:
Course:
Date:
Introductions
Some of the health care problems that the society faces todays are associated with the practices that have long been embedded in the culture. There are quite a number of practices that most of the cultures will be involved in and they have some very detrimental impacts on the health of the community. To get the perspective of high risk nutritional practices, these can be defined as any nutritional habits that increase the risk of health complications. For example binge drinking among the youths is an unhealthy practice that increases the risk of developing alcohol related diseases. Practices such as having unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners, smoking cigarettes, smoking cannabis, eating processed foods, lack of exercise and overeating are some of the most common risky habits that are likely to cause health problems or even lead to chronic diseases and death in the extreme cases (Hyder&Morrow, 2005). Different cultures will have some practices that they have had for years and while they may be justified along cultural practices or social, they are risky and will in the end be one of the reasons for their health challenges. It is important to note that each of the cultures plays a vital in the global health outlook and policies for the future. As such, these are significant aspects that need to be addressed and in this case with reference to the Indians, Native Americans, Mexicans, Chinese, Haitians, Kenyans, Israeli, Egyptians and the Jamaicans.
Indians and Native Americans
To start off the cultures with risky health practices are the Indians and Native Americans. According to the survey conducted on the two communities, the leading health challenges are malnutrition, infectious diseases, and even infant mortality. This can be attributed to the cultural practices that the cultures have had for quite some time and they affect their health in the short and long run. Some of the unhealthy and risky behaviors that are common among the Indians and the Native Americans include the fact that they smoke (Denny, Holtzman& Cobb, 2003). This is a common practice and one that has been growing despite the fact that, there are warnings of the impacts of the same. Most of the males in this culture are also workaholics, which means that they rarely have the time to relax and give their body the time to recharge. At the same time a good number of men and especially of the young men. Among the women these are not common practices and such, it is the men population that is at risk of health complications associated with the same. The main contributing factor is the spiritual beliefs that guides the foods that they eat at any given time. Even patients have to eat certain foods and perform specific practices that appease the spirit world.
African Americans
In the United States one of the main challenges is associated with obesity. However, there’s a challenge among the African Americans who are actually predisposed to obesity and other overweight diseases risks.
‘African Americans have difficulty in achieving these lifestyle modifications. The prevalence of Obesity (Class 2 and 3) among all ethnic groups is highest for African Am...