Cross-Cultural Analysis of Nutrition Guidelines and the Effects on Health Statistics

Abstract

This thesis will explore how countries around the world educate their citizens on proper nutrition. The United States of America uses the MyPlate theme, and other countries use various symbols to depict dietary guidelines. Nutrition guidelines vary from country to country; some countries focus on proteins, such as meats, while others focus on vegetables and other complex carbohydrates. This research will explore how guidelines are communicated and how these dietary guidelines effect health statistics such as body mass index (BMI). This research aims to find a relationship between following the nutrition guidelines and positive outcomes in health statistics. The likely results include a better understanding of worldwide nutrition, the impact of lifestyle choices and obesity, and ways to incorporate cross-cultural recommendations into the United States’ nutrition guidelines.