Through the applied approach of medical anthropology, anthropologists used their specialized skills to help aid the health of global communities for specific problems. They initiate the process of finding the issues of these communities and how to solve them. Though the applied approach began on a local level, globalization has changed that to intensify worldwide social relations and interdependence involving complex interactions between cultures, economic systems, political organizations, and planetary ecology. Globalization has created both advantages and disadvantages with widespread social relations, and one of the biggest disadvantages is that of obesity and CHD because of western influence.
This picture shows how globalization can be a disadvantage as the prevalence of overweight and obesity, which can lead to CHD, is now prevalent worldwide(1). This is a depiction of how social relations can have a significant influence across cultures and internationally to spread disease. Though it seems that the most developed countries have the higher rates of overweight individuals, developing countries also face the prevalence of CHD.
In the article of Pascal Bovet regarding the article, "The Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic: global, regional, local," he describes the methods in which to attempt a knowledge and gain of healthy lifestyles and the symptoms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In western culture, Bovet describes the economical advantage of a wealthier culture that can provide screening and treatment to aid the cause of preventing CVD. In contrast, the other developing countries are threatened with a great risk of CVD, however it is much cheaper to solve the problem before it becomes likely to be fatal or see high economic costs. Through anti-hypertension medication, most of these problems of CVD can be avoided in conjunction with a knowledge of a positive influence for a healthy lifestyle (2).
Citations:
1."Obesity: A Growing Global Trend and Risk Factor For Chronic Disease." Picture Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/media-center/news/obesity-growing-global-trend-and-risk-factor-chronic-disease
2. Pascal Bovet. "The Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic: global, regional, local." Tropical Medicine and International Health 7(2002):717-721.
1."Obesity: A Growing Global Trend and Risk Factor For Chronic Disease." Picture Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/media-center/news/obesity-growing-global-trend-and-risk-factor-chronic-disease
2. Pascal Bovet. "The Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic: global, regional, local." Tropical Medicine and International Health 7(2002):717-721.