How does cultural capital keep you thin? Exploring unique aspects of cultural class that link social advantage to lower body mass index

Abstract

A widely used indicator for cultural class is strongly related to a lower body mass index (BMI): cultural capital measured as 'highbrow' taste. This study's objective was to theorise and measure aspects of cultural class that are more plausibly linked to low BMI, and subsequently explore their relevance. Building on Bourdieusian theory we derive four of those aspects: 'refinement' (valuing form and appearance over function and substance), 'asceticism' (self-imposed constraints), 'diversity' (appreciation of variety in and of itself) and 'reflexivity' (reflexive deliberation and internal dialogue). Using standardised interviews with 597 participants in the Dutch GLOBE study in 2016, we subsequently demonstrate: (i) newly developed survey items can reliably measure four aspects of cultural class: 'asceticism', 'general refinement', 'food refinement' and 'reflexivity' (Cronbach's alphas between 0.67-0.77); (ii) embodied/objectified cultural capital (i.e. 'highbrow' taste) was positively associated with general refinement, food refinement and reflexivity, whereas institutionalised cultural capital (i.e. education) was positively associated with asceticism and reflexivity; (iii) asceticism, general refinement, reflexivity, but not food refinement, were associated with a lower BMI; (iv) asceticism, general refinement and reflexivity together accounted for 52% of the association between embodied/objectified cultural capital and BMI, and 38% of the association between institutionalised cultural capital and BMI.

Does food-related cultural capital contribute to diet inequality in rural Australia? A pilot cross-sectional study

“…Our findings that low food-related cultural capital was associated with low fruit and vegetable consumption and overall diet quality was consistent with previous literature. ( 7, 10, 12 ) As anticipated, total incorporated cultural capital is a stronger predictor for diet compared to objectivised cultural capital. This potentially relates to the method of calculation for these two variables where the total incorporated cultural capital included a much wider scope of factors compared to objectivised cultural capital.…”

“…(7) With this in mind, more recent studies have linked cultural resources to diet and health inequalities, and have identified cultural capital, constructed by culture-based activities, knowledge and perceptions, as a good predictor for diet quality. (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) For example, a Dutch study reported that low cultural capital was strongly correlated with poor diet outcomes (7) while a study in Norway reported cultural capital as a good predictor for healthy eating patterns amongst adolescents. (8) Culture is a resource acquired through social learning that is critical to people's behaviour, norms, values and knowledge.…”

An incongruous intervention: Exploring the role of anti‐institutionalism in less‐educated individual’s limited uptake of nutrition information

“…As another consequence of this socialization, their lifestyles differ from those of many less‐educated individuals in terms of, e.g. cultural consumption (Katz‐Gerro, 2002 ; Van Eijck, 1999 ) and political viewpoints (Noordzij et al, 2019 ; Spruyt et al, 2016 ), as well as health (Oude Groeniger et al, 2020 ; Pampel et al, 2010 ) and food practices (Oude Groeniger et al, 2017 ; Pampel, 2012 ). In and of themselves, these lifestyle differences are no cause for anti‐institutionalist tendencies by less‐educated individuals.…”

Critical health literacy: reflection and action for health

“…Finally, e mbodied cultural capital refers to various kinds of behaviours, skills and socially relevant, valued knowledge acquired through formal and informal education in schools, families, sport clubs, etc. ( Abel, 2007 , 2008b ; Oude Groeniger et al, 2020 ). It comprises health-relevant tastes, preferences and dispositions that are physically embodied, part of the habitus and practised through lifestyles ( Cockerham, 2005 ).…”