Essential Question for International Travel
Prior to the international travel component of the program, all Teachers for Global Classrooms participants needed to develop an essential question. The essential question was to assist us in our inquiry and observation of our experiences while in our country.
Due to recent changes occurring in Brazilian society, how are individuals diets and health being affected?
Brazil’s society has had rapid growth in business and economics. It has the sixth largest economy and fifth largest population in the world. As societies grow and become more industrialized there tends to be some negative consequences to the positive growth. Teaching health I tended to observe the dietary habits and foods as well as any exercise of the Brazilians, and pondered are the recent changes impacting their diets and
health, and is there a longer lasting effect on Brazilian society?
The traditional Brazilian meal tends to have a meat (protein), rice and beans, and a vegetable, such as cooked zucchini or pumpkin. Juice is served at most meals, most of which is freshly juiced. Many of the individuals I encountered are able to go home at lunch so they can easily control their diets.
There are plenty of restaurants available. One of the most common is the “kilo” style buffet, where one goes through
the buffet, and only pays for the amount their plate weighs. The patron is able to return to the buffet and obtain more food or even dessert, and their ticket is marked again with the weight, and you then pay at the end of your meal. Individuals only pay for what they take, and also making the consumer think about the amount of food you are putting on your plate, and not over consuming. Unfortunately in the recent years there has been an influx in the amount of fast food restaurants in Brazil, both the American chains (McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc.) as well as Brazilian chains (Bob’s, Habib’s, etc.). When walking around the malls there are the small stands and food courts
with fast food type establishment, with few healthy options. Students in a class I was visiting were informally polled as what is their favorite restaurant; many mentioned some sort of fast food restaurant. Several adults also informed me they love McDonalds. The small town of Taguatinga had about five McDonald’s.
Coca-Cola products seem to be everywhere in Brazil, and the other common soda is Guarana which derives from a fruit in the Amazon which is naturally caffeinated. Brazilian society does not tend to walk around with bottles (water or soda) or coffee cups, so rarely did I see individuals’ drinking water unless it was at a restaurant (where most had soda or juice) or at a home. During my stay in the country, I felt as if I was constantly dehydrated even though I would drink water at every opportunity, and brought water with me. I wondered how this does affect people’s health, as even mild dehydration can cause headaches and tiredness?
Many Brazilians have entered into the middle class in recent years allowing them to be able to purchase automobiles.
It is evident when driving around, Taguatinga for example; there are more cars than roads, and lots of traffic and congestion. This influx of automobiles is causing more individuals to drive, and less to walk to their destinations or ride the bus (walking to the bus stop).
There does appear to be a portion of the population who is concerned about their health and even appearance.
In a large park in Brasilia many individuals would be out walking and running before work, and the same park on a Sunday morning was very busy with walkers, runners, cyclists, and even rollerblades. Many parks, large or small, have stationary work out equipment that allows the community members to use. One such park in Rio de Janeiro even had free weights. Also spotted were gyms both large and small, and some that seemed very
large, new and expensive. The women’s only chain Curve’s has moved into Brazil, and saw locations in
Taguatinga and Rio. In my short time, I met a woman who had become concerned with her health and weight and
opted for Bariatric surgery about six months earlier; she has since lost weight and was feeling better than she did prior to the surgery. When dining with her, she made healthy choices and was very conscience of what her diet consists of now, and stays active.
Prior to my departure and even after my return, friends would ask if most of the people were “beautiful” referring to their physical appearance. Many people when they think of Brazil think of the stereotypical Brazilian appearance of being fit and physically beautiful and appealing to look at for both men and women. In reality, Brazilian people are not the stereotype; there are people of all sizes and fitness levels; those concerned with diet, health and being
physically active to the extreme of those who eat junk food and do little exercise.
According to Brazil’s Ministry of Health in 2012 one half of Brazilian’s are now overweight and over 15 percent are considered obese. In a five year time span from 2006 to 2011 the obesity rate has increased 4.4% and the population being overweight increased 5.8%. The largest population that was overweight was men from ages 35-45 at 63% and women from 45-54 years of age at 55.9%. More alarmingly is that the youngest population studied was 18-24 year olds and 30% of the men and 25% of the women were considered overweight.
While at the University of Brasilia I did notice a flyer for a study of individuals with diabetes. As diabetes is on the rise in the United States, I was curious if the same was true in Brazil? Unfortunately I was unable to obtain any data on this, but was informed by my host teacher that it is also increasing.
On a positive note, even though obesity and weight gain is on the rise, from observations individuals appear to accept themselves how they are and not be self conscious. Many individuals who were overweight were still at the beach and wearing the bikini or men’s Speedo type swimsuits. As we live in a society in the United States where so many need to look perfect and many Americans do not accept themselves how they are, it was refreshing to be around another culture that at least appear to accept themselves and others for who they are. This then brought up other
questions. What is their suicide rate? Are teen suicides common? Are people bullied due to their physical appearance?
The teachers I met stated they do not have a class that teaches just health topics. The health concepts would be incorporated into a science class.
So it does appear that even though Brazil’s economy and society are becoming more modernized, and influenced by the United States, it is not all for the best. The health of individuals is declining due to dietary changes, the influx
in the automobile due to a rising standard of living, and most likely a lack of exercise. This all leads to more questions. What are the other health problems due to weight effecting Brazilians? How is this impacting their society and health care system? Is enough funding being spent on educating society regarding dietary choices? What can be done to improve the health of the Brazilian society?
Brazil’s society has had rapid growth in business and economics. It has the sixth largest economy and fifth largest population in the world. As societies grow and become more industrialized there tends to be some negative consequences to the positive growth. Teaching health I tended to observe the dietary habits and foods as well as any exercise of the Brazilians, and pondered are the recent changes impacting their diets and
health, and is there a longer lasting effect on Brazilian society?
The traditional Brazilian meal tends to have a meat (protein), rice and beans, and a vegetable, such as cooked zucchini or pumpkin. Juice is served at most meals, most of which is freshly juiced. Many of the individuals I encountered are able to go home at lunch so they can easily control their diets.
There are plenty of restaurants available. One of the most common is the “kilo” style buffet, where one goes through
the buffet, and only pays for the amount their plate weighs. The patron is able to return to the buffet and obtain more food or even dessert, and their ticket is marked again with the weight, and you then pay at the end of your meal. Individuals only pay for what they take, and also making the consumer think about the amount of food you are putting on your plate, and not over consuming. Unfortunately in the recent years there has been an influx in the amount of fast food restaurants in Brazil, both the American chains (McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc.) as well as Brazilian chains (Bob’s, Habib’s, etc.). When walking around the malls there are the small stands and food courts
with fast food type establishment, with few healthy options. Students in a class I was visiting were informally polled as what is their favorite restaurant; many mentioned some sort of fast food restaurant. Several adults also informed me they love McDonalds. The small town of Taguatinga had about five McDonald’s.
Coca-Cola products seem to be everywhere in Brazil, and the other common soda is Guarana which derives from a fruit in the Amazon which is naturally caffeinated. Brazilian society does not tend to walk around with bottles (water or soda) or coffee cups, so rarely did I see individuals’ drinking water unless it was at a restaurant (where most had soda or juice) or at a home. During my stay in the country, I felt as if I was constantly dehydrated even though I would drink water at every opportunity, and brought water with me. I wondered how this does affect people’s health, as even mild dehydration can cause headaches and tiredness?
Many Brazilians have entered into the middle class in recent years allowing them to be able to purchase automobiles.
It is evident when driving around, Taguatinga for example; there are more cars than roads, and lots of traffic and congestion. This influx of automobiles is causing more individuals to drive, and less to walk to their destinations or ride the bus (walking to the bus stop).
There does appear to be a portion of the population who is concerned about their health and even appearance.
In a large park in Brasilia many individuals would be out walking and running before work, and the same park on a Sunday morning was very busy with walkers, runners, cyclists, and even rollerblades. Many parks, large or small, have stationary work out equipment that allows the community members to use. One such park in Rio de Janeiro even had free weights. Also spotted were gyms both large and small, and some that seemed very
large, new and expensive. The women’s only chain Curve’s has moved into Brazil, and saw locations in
Taguatinga and Rio. In my short time, I met a woman who had become concerned with her health and weight and
opted for Bariatric surgery about six months earlier; she has since lost weight and was feeling better than she did prior to the surgery. When dining with her, she made healthy choices and was very conscience of what her diet consists of now, and stays active.
Prior to my departure and even after my return, friends would ask if most of the people were “beautiful” referring to their physical appearance. Many people when they think of Brazil think of the stereotypical Brazilian appearance of being fit and physically beautiful and appealing to look at for both men and women. In reality, Brazilian people are not the stereotype; there are people of all sizes and fitness levels; those concerned with diet, health and being
physically active to the extreme of those who eat junk food and do little exercise.
According to Brazil’s Ministry of Health in 2012 one half of Brazilian’s are now overweight and over 15 percent are considered obese. In a five year time span from 2006 to 2011 the obesity rate has increased 4.4% and the population being overweight increased 5.8%. The largest population that was overweight was men from ages 35-45 at 63% and women from 45-54 years of age at 55.9%. More alarmingly is that the youngest population studied was 18-24 year olds and 30% of the men and 25% of the women were considered overweight.
While at the University of Brasilia I did notice a flyer for a study of individuals with diabetes. As diabetes is on the rise in the United States, I was curious if the same was true in Brazil? Unfortunately I was unable to obtain any data on this, but was informed by my host teacher that it is also increasing.
On a positive note, even though obesity and weight gain is on the rise, from observations individuals appear to accept themselves how they are and not be self conscious. Many individuals who were overweight were still at the beach and wearing the bikini or men’s Speedo type swimsuits. As we live in a society in the United States where so many need to look perfect and many Americans do not accept themselves how they are, it was refreshing to be around another culture that at least appear to accept themselves and others for who they are. This then brought up other
questions. What is their suicide rate? Are teen suicides common? Are people bullied due to their physical appearance?
The teachers I met stated they do not have a class that teaches just health topics. The health concepts would be incorporated into a science class.
So it does appear that even though Brazil’s economy and society are becoming more modernized, and influenced by the United States, it is not all for the best. The health of individuals is declining due to dietary changes, the influx
in the automobile due to a rising standard of living, and most likely a lack of exercise. This all leads to more questions. What are the other health problems due to weight effecting Brazilians? How is this impacting their society and health care system? Is enough funding being spent on educating society regarding dietary choices? What can be done to improve the health of the Brazilian society?