CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF BINGE EATING HABITS AMONG THE CITIZENS OF GUJRANWALA CITY

Abstract

Binge eating is a pattern of disordered eating consisting of episodes of uncontrollable eating. During such binges, a person rapidly consumes an excessive quantity of food resulting in being overweight and obese. This thesis investigates the binge eating habits and its cultural determinants among the people of Gujranwala, Punjab Province of Pakistan. Even though there are various researches on eating habits of individuals in general but the overall aim for this research was to explore the commensality practice along with other cultural factors of eating food in Gujranwala, Pakistan, Obesity has become a burning health issue in Pakistan that has held the attention in recent years. This study highlights the present literature on the reasons, factors, assessment and, analysis, co-morbid conditions associated with obesity. In the present research, male respondents who had binge-eating habits and were suffering from obesity for last few years constituted the target population. A sample of 100 respondents was selected through the purposive sampling technique because the target population was only those people who had been suffering from obesity. As the sampling frame was not available for the researcher, that’s how keeping in view the saturation point and normative practices in the department, the researcher drew a sample of 100 respondents. The data was collected through closeended structured questionaire. The study revealed that as food prices in the district of Gujranwala were not too high, people eat more often in a restaurant. This study also found that the tendency towards a westernized diet in West Asia was unfavorable for local culture of food. The participants in this study indicated the inevitable roles of outdoor and fast foods in their eating choices and this was particularly highlighted as an enjoyment among younger folks when they had time with their family, friends and colleagues. Some of them preferred restaurants to homemade food, which were cheap and easily prepared for a gathering.