Socio-cultural factors influencing attitudes to body image and their health implications among the Luo of western Kenya

Abstract

Earlier studies have shown that socio-cultural forces usually impose upon individuals within particular communities to display their bodies in various ways. In matters of body image, there are communities that value slender bodies while others adore large bodies resulting in overweight individuals and, in both cases, leading to the detriment of the subjects’ health. This study sought to examine the influence of socio-cultural factors on the perceptions of and attitudes to body image, and their relationship to health among the Luo of Bondo in Western Kenya. The study was based in Nyang’oma division, Bondo sub-County of Siaya County. It applied phenomenological reasoning in both the conceptualization of variables and in the methods of data collection. The methodology involved the use of an exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study design while the data collection was essentially qualitative, with use of participatory methods. The analysis was done thematically. This study established that there exist perceptions of and attitudes to body image among the Luo of Bondo sub-County. The community is more tolerant to obesity, and members are encouraged to pursue overweight bodies. However, the people do not relate this obesity to any health risk. They consider obesity as a sign of wealth, peace, good health and general social worth; thus predisposing themselves to obesity-related conditions such as diabetes. The emphasis for obese bodies is however skewed towards women and the elderly, making them more-at-risk groups. Pursuant to this, the study recommends that more studies be conducted in this study site to ascertain the clinical implications of these attitudes to curb a potential diabetes epidemic especially among the elderly and the women. More studies also need to be done to establish the influence of these attitudes on compliance to medication.