Bodies and beliefs in rural areas: social representations in food and public health

Abstract

Social representations are more than simple ideas; they are collective constructions that shape how the body is perceived and the decisions made about what, when, and how to eat. In rural contexts such as Santiago Cuauhtenco, in the State of Mexico, local traditions, family beliefs, and the limited presence of public health services influence the symbolic construction of the body and its relationship with food. This study focuses on men and women aged 25 to 30. This stage of life represents a key moment in decision-making about self-care, but is also a vulnerable period in the face of social demands regarding physical appearance. Through in-depth interviews and analysis of habitual diets, we seek to understand how rural traditions, family expectations, and contemporary discourses intertwine to shape people's relationship with their bodies and food.  The research proposes that public health policies integrate these symbolic and cultural dimensions, recognizing that nutrition not only responds to biological or nutritional factors, but also to deeply rooted social meanings. "Bodies and Beliefs in Rural Areas" seeks to open a conversation about public health with a community-based approach, sensitive to the cultural and emotional realities of people in rural areas.