An Evolutionary Framework on Maladaptive Consumption Behaviours

Year 2018, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 116 - 120, 30.06.2018

Ani Bajrami Fundime Miri Valbona Aliko

Abstract

Obesity is caused by the interaction between
genetic and cultural or behavioural predispositions. Thus, both genes and
culture are products of evolutionary processes, hence cultural selection acts
on eating behaviours and perceptions. Nowadays, more and more scientific
studies are being conducted on obesogenic phenomena owing to health concerns
arising in western countries and eastern European countries, which, in recent
decades, have experienced a cultural shift in food consumption and perceptions
about what it is considered healthy. Heredity, changes in diet, leisure-time
behaviours, and the quality of physical activity are the main factors involved
in overweight and obesity. Additionally, other factors involved in obesogenic
phenomena are related to family, economic factors, lifestyle, preferred foods,
and nutritional beliefs regarding food consumption. Considerable cross-cultural
variation exists – even among different ethnicities living in the same
geographical area – and cultural selection is the principal cause. One previous
study conducted on Albanian citizens aged 2 to 20 years revealed the numbers of
overweight and obese Albanian children and adolescents to be among the highest
in Europe. Overweight and obesity are caused by food habits and cultural
perceptions regarding health. While genetics plays a significant role, it is
mostly major cultural changes in post-communist countries that are responsible
for obesogenic phenomena. Consumption behaviours regarding food and health in
Albania are the principal factors involved in the spread of obesogenic
phenomena across the post-communist states. 

Keywords

evolution, consumption behaviours, transmitted culture, obesity, Balkan area, Albanians

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