Southern Methodist University SMU Scholar
Collection of Engaged Learning Engaged Learning
4-15-2014 The Allure and Impact of Fast Food in China Xinqi Mike Ren Southern Methodist University, [email protected]
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Engaged Learning Final Report The Allure and Impact of Fast Food in China
Xinqi Ren
Mentor: Dr. Richard S. Jones April 2014 SMU
The Allure and Impact of Fast Food in China Xinqi Ren
Abstract: exposed to elevated amounts unhealthy This project involves surveying food, but may lack the knowledge to university students in China, using the make healthy nutrition decisions. Newest Vital Sign (NVS) – a commonly Nutrition literacy is the understanding accepted nutrition literacy test, in order an individual has that dictates his or her to analyze their nutrition literacy and eating decisions and habits. It falls dietary choices, specifically their under the umbrella of health literacy, attitude towards American fast food. A which is a “stronger predictor of a colleague, Jeffrey He, will investigate person's health than age, income, the cultural implications of fast food in employment status, education level, China. The ultimate goal is to and race". In the United States, our understand Chinese youth’s opinions of citizens and culture have had long time fast food as well as provide health and exposure to fast food, and there have nutritional information to help students been ample studies on the health in China make informed dietary hazards of consuming fast food. In fact, decisions. nearly all food chains in the U.S. are attempting to promote healthy Introduction: alternatives on their menus – salads, Fast food registers thoughts of low calorie meals, juice and fruit with burgers, fries, and other fatty foods in kid’s meals. In China, however, there is the minds of most Americans. However, quite the opposite. The recent and the industry has, in recent years, hurried spread of these chains has not expanded far beyond American borders. allowed for regulations to pressure fast Entrepreneurship and the global market food giants, and so there is no incentive have brought fast food chains – for them to offer expanded, healthier Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, menu choices. Burger King, and Pizza Hut- en masse to Despite the importance of rapidly developing nations such as nutrition literacy, a recent overview of China. This expansion leads to economic PubMed databases reveals that less growth for these countries, but not than one percent of all articles without consequence – including pertaining to health and nutrition damaging competition to local literacy mentioned Chinese populations. restaurants and social rifts between the The high importance of nutrition literacy older, traditional generation and the raises the question of why is there modernized youth. insufficient research on this topic. Such Furthermore, the accelerated a shortage of information prompted addition of fast food chains in Chinese action to be taken in order to research cities presents a substantial nutrition and improve the nutrition literacy of literacy disparity – the people are individuals in China. As a college student with considerable background in research, specifically health literacy, I supplementing a series of short proposed an exploratory project to questions encompassing education survey Chinese populations to analyze level, economic status, age, and their nutrition literacy. frequency of fast food consumption; Within the current perspective these additional queries will add depth of China and its citizens, there is an and comprehensiveness to the research, incomplete understanding of the link and most importantly, allow for my between their affinity for western fast research to be expanded upon later on. food chains, and their lack of nutrition The history of China is not one literacy. This research has broadened marked by constant changes, but rather this understanding by including the by sweeping waves of reform. After the investigation of the nutrition literacy Mao Zedong era and the fall of China’s and nutrition choices of Chinese ally, Communist Russia, China opened students and relating this relationship its doors to the rest of the world. back to the affinity or animosity towards Immediately, businessmen, employers, fast food. Ultimately, the purpose of this capitalists, and entrepreneurs flocked to Engaged Learning project was to explore its borders, spearheading the transition this connection by analyzing the to an openly accessible, worldwide nutrition literacy of a specifically economy. Although the Chinese defined Chinese population. government has strict control over economic aspects of the country, Background: businesses and businesses owners have In America, nutrition literacy is thrived. taught as a requirement in many The sheer size of the Chinese elementary schools in states such as population, or over-population, in major California and Washington. In China, cities has created huge markets where however, there is no such regulation or businesses, such as fast food chains can teaching. Nutrition literacy is commonly be fiscally successful. This, along with assessed through knowledge of basic the lack of diet awareness and nutrition nutrient facts, such as reading a food literacy have created many problems for label. However, nutrition literacy the Chinese citizens, who frequent the extends beyond the basic reading skills fast food establishments without because often, complex information is realizing the dangers to their health. To presented and hidden from the exacerbate the problem, the Chinese individual. Presently, one should have government has yet to impose skills to research nutritional facts to regulations for healthier menu items, supplement their nutrition literacy as an nor has it set guidelines for the full increasingly amount of these facts are disclosure of nutritional facts for the distributed via the Internet. items sold by fast food chains. One can I proposed to assess nutritional speculate why these protocols are not literacy by using a commonly accepted in place; perhaps it is because the method – a nutrition literacy government has its focus elsewhere, or questionnaire with contents of basic more likely, China has not had enough nutrition labels, as well as exposure to these fast food establishments to instigate such chronic conditions ranging from directive. Conversely, the U.S. has these cardiovascular, blood pressure, and guidelines because here, we are far cholesterol issues to diabetes and more familiar with fast food, since we obesity. Suppression and treatment of have had it for decades. these conditions require the individual to have proper dieting habits, and to do Significance: so requires nutrition literacy. The significance of nutrition The facets affected by nutrition literacy is vast and well reflected in its literacy provide insight on just how implications: nutritional literacy plays a important it is, as all of the listed factors large role in an individual’s self-reported contribute to increased annual hospital health status. Furthermore, nutrition visits and increased hospital waiting literacy strongly correlates with health time, which amounts to rising health literacy, which is the prime indicator of costs. Thus, improving nutrition literacy an individual’s health. Nutrition literacy will have a two-fold effect: it will benefit mirrors an individual’s daily the individuals’ health and well being, as nourishment intake, indicating that well as decrease health related someone who has high nutrition literacy expenses while improving efficiency. will eat well-balanced, healthy meals frequently, while someone who has Methodology: poor literacy simply will not. Preface One pivotal point that many The research called for surveying states in the U.S. address is that a set of Chinese college students in the teaching nutrition literacy early on, in city of Hangzhou. The subjects surveyed elementary school, is highly beneficial will be random. because it will lead to improved diet Setting habits later on. This fact remains true The project site chosen was for all individuals, especially children. Hangzhou, China. This particular city An additional aspect greatly was selected for its rich culture and affected by nutrition literacy is allergies. established university. Furthermore, Many individuals have various food Hangzhou is a developed, modernized allergies, peanuts, fish, and citrus, and metropolis with ample fast food chains continue to suffer from these allergies, – 26 KFCs, 10 Pizza Huts, 10 McDonalds, resulting in severe symptoms or even and 1 Burger King. All of these chains death. They succumb to their allergies are mentioned specifically because they because often they are not sufficiently are popular, quintessential, and nutrition literate; someone with peanut unhealthy fast food staples in China and allergies may not recognize the small the rest of the world. print on food packaging that states Design “warning: this product was made in a The nutrition literacy survey, warehouse that also produces peanut attached, is an encompassing indicator products.” of nutrition literacy. It will consist of a Nutrition literacy also Chinese nutrition label commonly found extensively influences people with in China and my supplemental questionnaire. To ensure the validity of 7, significantly higher than the average the research, and to prevent confusing deemed nutritionally literate – 4.5. between testing for language or There were no scores below 4 and only nutritional literacy, I offered to read 12 perfect scores of 7, which speaks to aloud my supplemental portion of the the difficulty and reliability of the NVS survey in Chinese. Upon completion of a survey. survey, the administrator thanked the participant and provided a nutrition Conclusion: literacy booklet that details the benefits The primary goal of this research of good nutrition literacy. The goal is to project was to assess nutrition literacy provide a service that gives back and of college students in Hangzhou, China. teaches those in the community to The original hypothesis was that college develop their nutrition literacy, thereby students in China had sufficient improving their health. To maintain nutrition literacy and ate fast food for anonymity of the surveyed individuals other reasons such as its taste, and eliminate bias, I did not inquire convenience, and social appeal. After names, but instead tracked each survey analyzing the NVS surveys, the average and individual with initials and an score of 100 Chinese college students assigned number according to birth was 5.2, which means they are date, to ensure no survey is repeated. nutritionally literate and well aware of Additional Information the food they were eating. Furthermore, Along with measures of nutrition in my interviews, many participants literacy, my survey also allowed me to provided their perspective on fast food, collect demographical data such as age, saying that it was expensive and gender, education level, and how well modern, clean to eat, yet unhealthy, the informed one is of the current health restaurants were popular venues to and nutritional related issues. Doing so hang out in, and the food was adds a greater degree of perspective to convenient and provided a variety to the study, and oral narratives may be their diet. This research aimed to help collected to reflect citizens’ concerns Chinese citizens understand the and thoughts on the fast food industry, consequences of nutrition literacy as which will supplement Jeffrey’s research well as help us understand how and contribute to the overall project. American fast food is perceived in other These additional parameters enrich the countries. Further implications for policy research by providing an intimate can be administered to improve the perspective that sheds light on the quality of fast food abroad such as complexities of the economic growth in offering healthier salad or alternative China. menu items. The research is limited by its population sample, as future queries Results: could include a wider range of people to The participants scored very well better represent a country's population. on the NVS, indiciating their adaquate Moreover, a comparative study could be nutritional literacy. Out of 100 students done involving Americans and our surveyed, the mean score was 5.2 out of perspective on fast food. Acknowledgements
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