Food as a Barometer of Wealth

Food as a Barometer of Wealth

We have discussed the growing disparity between urban and rural areas in China, the result of a growing disparity of wealth between the two areas. There is a plethora of social and economic problems associated with the gap between these two social and economic groups - now we can add one more. A recent article in the International Herald Tribune mentions the growth of obesity amongst many young professionals in urban areas. This generation is the product of parents who scrimped and saved on ration cards and sees food as a tangible expression of their newfound wealth and prosperity, not only for themselves but also as a way of expressing their love for their children. Remember the Frontline piece we saw that discussed Wal-Mart’s selling of dairy to a nation that is essentially lactose intolerant? That problem continues as wealthy urbanites gobble up cheese and gulp down milk.

In some ways this doesn’t seem too far removed from societies of yore where one’s wealth was paraded not only in the clothes worn but also in the body upon which those clothes were draped. The conundrum for modern China is that their wealth allows them to become obese while media images tout a slim body. The result? - an upsurge in fitness and gym memberships.

The concept of obesity is upsetting enough (as if China did not already have enough health problems to worry about) but coupled with the hand to mouth existence of the majority of its rural population such indulgences and excesses are particularly troubling.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/09/business/foodside.php