Globalization and children’s diets: The case of Maya of Mexico and Central America

Barry Bogin; Hugo Azcorra; Hannah J. Wilson; Adriana Vázquez-Vázquez; María Luisa Avila-Escalante; Inês Varela-Silva; Federico Dickinson; Maria Teresa Castillo-Burguete

doi:10.2478/anre-2014-0002

Authors

Barry Bogin School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, UK
Hugo Azcorra School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, UK; Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Mérida, México
Hannah J. Wilson Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Adriana Vázquez-Vázquez Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Mérida, México
María Luisa Avila-Escalante School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, UK
Inês Varela-Silva School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, UK
Federico Dickinson Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Mérida, México
Maria Teresa Castillo-Burguete Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Mérida, México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/anre-2014-0002

Keywords:

maternal-child health, nutrition transition, sugar-sweetened beverages, military-industrial complex

Abstract

Globalization is, in part, an economic force to bring about a closer integration of national economies. Globalization is also a biological, social and ideological process of change. Globalization results in powerful multinational corporations imposing their products on new markets. Food globalization brings about nutritional transitions, the most common being a shift from a locally-grown diet with minimally refined foods, to the modern diet of highly processed foods, high in saturated fat, animal products and sugar, and low in fiber. This paper will examine the influences of food globalization using the Maya of Mexico as a case study. The Maya people of Mexico are a poignant case. Maya health and culture has deteriorated as a result, with highly processed foods affecting physical growth and health of Maya children and their families. The case of the Maya is not isolated and we must come to terms with food globalization if we are to translate research into better child health and well-being.

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