Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases is increasing in India and around the world. As globalization and social changes are believed to be at the root of these epidemiological changes, these factors must be better understood. This study engaged older adults to gain an important perspective on globalization and health.MethodsA free-list instrument and a structured survey were developed and used to gather data on changes in diet, activity, and women’s roles from ten grandmothers in rural India.ResultsGrandmothers indicated that household chores and food preparation are less labor-intensive and time-consuming due to mechanization and the availability of prepared foods than a generation earlier. Families are more often eating food out, bringing prepared food home, and using ready-made food mixes; adolescents are continuing to eat meals at home, but now snack with friends outside the home more frequently.ConclusionsUsing both a free-list instrument and a structured survey, grandmothers were able to provide insights about the changing context of dietary patterns and family roles arising with globalization that may be contributing to the rise in chronic disease.

Highlights

  • The prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases is increasing in India and around the world

  • Seven were living with their son’s family and were the paternal grandmothers of the family’s children, while three were maternal grandmothers living with their daughter and son-in-law

  • In this part of India, the cultural norm is for the paternal grandmother to stay with family; when older women have several sons, they may stay with their eldest son, their youngest son, or the son who is managing their ancestral property

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Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases is increasing in India and around the world. A recent focus of research has been the increase in overweight and obesity in less developed settings, including India [1,2,3,4]. This trend may be due to globalizing influences such as urbanization; the mechanization of laborious tasks; new sedentary activities involving televisions and computers; and the availability of cheap, energydense foods [5,6,7,8]. Processed foods high in sugars and fats, such as soda, packaged snacks like Oreos, and Cadbury chocolates, are becoming more widespread [9]. This pattern may be due in part to the ways in which transnational food

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