The fact that Nigatu that was able to find evidence that obesity was linked to depression specifically, makes for an interesting discussion about how much of an impact this stigma around weight, that Tomiyama had defined earlier, actually has on a person. Nigatu’s findings create a parallel with her definition because by describing how the weight stigma is a “social devaluation” of people means that this devaluation could push people beyond their mental limits and their mind could respond…
In the article “Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance” written by Mary Ray Worley, she points out that obesity is considered negative, because society has determined that it is. She supports this idea, by reflecting back to her personal experiences of attending the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) convention in San Diego, which is a convention to support and love yourself. Worley claimed it was like “another planet,” because of the “diversity” of sizes. According to Worley, everyone was accepted in this “planet” while in her “home planet”, that acceptance was lacking (Worley 163).…
In “Fear of Fatness” by Peggy Orenstein, she claims that the beauty standards set by society are degrading women’s appearances causing them to constantly stress over how they are perceived. She explains this through the use of satire and the personal experience of a friend, Holly, whose five-year-old daughter, Ava, is overweight. Holly is so concerned about Ava’s weight that she contacts her daughter’s pediatrician to help control Ava’s portion sizes.…
“Dieting makes everything worse, for the chances are high that fat people will fail. They will be saddened and frustrated by their failures” (Schwartz 180). She gives us her view of a fat society. This society is one, which in fact only fat people reside. No no more vindication on people with larger size.…
In the article “Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance,” author Mary Ray Worley discusses the hardships a fat person endures, and the hindering weight of society’s judgements and misconceptions on their shoulders. Worley suggests that these judgmental people cause the real problem in society--the overgeneralization of fatness as a one-shoe-fits-all disease.…
There were times that people were mean to me because I was FAT. Just like there were also times were people were mean to me because they were jealous of me being thinner. There were times when people showed me love because I was thinner. Just like there were times when people showed me love because I was FAT. Through those experiences, I’ve discovered that--when I was comfortable with being me, regardless of my size. I was able to attract more people that were more attracted to me, and not my…
Then we went and this lady wearing a purple dress got the last cranberry juice. An we asked the manager. If they have any more cranberry juice and the manager was wearing red pants and a red shirt. Said if there was no juice behind there was no more. And we said, “okay.…
The United States is facing a growing epidemic of obesity. Obesity affects individuals of any age, gender, or nationality. Diseases increased by obesity are increasing at alarming rates in children and adults. It is thought that children suffering from obesity will not live as long as their parents. Along with health risks in children they have to endure ridicule and teasing from other children at school resulting in psychological problems that can follow them into adulthood (Neighmond, 2010). Americans have a fascination with fast food and consuming too much food in one meal…
In an article written by Colleen Thompson and Dr. Lauren Muhlheim, it is emphasized that more than just a few individuals in society struggle with the same issue of not being able to fit the ‘ideal figure’: “In North America, men and women are given the message at a very young age that in order to be happy and successful, they must be thin and fit... Thousands of teenage girls are starving themselves trying to attain what the fashion industry considers to be the “ideal” figure.” An individual person with an eating disorder could be singled out and their specific case could be thought has a person problem but with applied sociological imagination, society would realize that it's the obsession for the fair skin and thin body, creating a widespread public issue, that has indirectly affected thousands of boys and girls in the United States alone. Cultural structures such as the media are not the only structures in society that have an influence on what constitutes the idea body size and figure. The sociological approach to what can be considered as the “ideal figure” is respected because it can explain how social and cultural values affect the individual's attitudes towards eating. Furthermore, a sociological approach is useful for understanding eating behavior because it can explain why eating disorders appear in…
Instead of tearing overweight people down, they can encourage them to take action to help them live a happy and healthy life. Sometimes in life, people need to understand that it takes positive remarks and actions to help one another out while facing struggles. Society poses this stupid idea that you have to be a certain size to model, or be on TV and that’s unacceptable. It’s time to take action now and stop the mindset that fat people are unaccepted.…
She finds herself and her confidence at the convention will never be the same as a result (163). However, in her “home planet,” she is ridiculed, has no self-confidence, and is lucky to find a swimsuit that fits her body. These two “planets” are vastly different, and she wants this world/society now to be more like the new planet in which overweight people are all accepted. She continues through the article talking about the struggles overweight people face every day: being ridiculed by strangers, feeling too embarrassed to wear shorts, and feeling reluctant to visit a doctor for fear of being criticized (165). Mary Ray Worley’s article claims that people of America do not need to lose weight, but be happy and accept one’s weight.…
Part I of The Weight of the Nation discussed the effects of the obesity epidemic in America. It immediately grabbed my attention when they stated that more than 18% of American children are obese. Two-thirds of America (or 68.8%) is overweight or obese. There is a strong connection between a high BMI and diabetes mellitus and hypertension, especially when accompanied by a high percentage of abdominal fat. I found it interesting, and important, that the first woman who shared her story pointed out the psychosocial effects of her obesity. She expressed that her self-esteem is affected by how her husband expresses his view of her weight. She later stated, “You get tired of that feeling of failure," regarding her failed efforts at losing weight.…
In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. A study done by theCenters of Disease Control showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has becomeoverweight. America is the richest but also the fattest nation in the world, and our obese backsides are the butt of jokes in every other country (Klein 28). The 1980s were a time whenAmericans suddenly started going crazy over dieting, jumping onto the treadmills, and buying prepackaged non-fat foods. However, while all of that was going on, the number of obeseAmericans began to increase. According to a report in the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation, 58 million people in our country weigh over 20 percent of their body’s ideal weight.The article “Fat Times” states, “If this were about tuberculosis, it would be called an epidemic”(Elmer-Dewit 58). The eating habits of society have steadily become more harmful and havestarted to produce gluttonous children, over-indulgent adults, and a food industry set too muchon satisfying our appetites.Obesity can begin at a very young age. Many children in our society are overweight,setting themselves up for serious health problems later in life. Type 2 diabetes, high bloodcholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart problems are just some of the risks. Children who areoverweight also tend to feel less secure, less happy, and be stressed more than normal weight…
Some of the social problems faced by obese children include discrimination when they attain adulthood age and are looking for jobs as well as trying to get into relationships. Childhood obesity also has negative impacts on the future lives of children. When children become adults and still remain to be obese, they may face discrimination in terms of job placements as well as their personal relationships with people of the opposite sex (Jebb, 40). Moreover, children that are obese also find it hard to engage with others in leisure activities such as bicycle racing, swimming among many other activities (Johnson, Delva, & O’Malley, S204). In addition, there is an issue in selecting their clothing. One of the necessities in life is clothing. People like fashionable clothes and children are no exception. However, due to childhood obesity, they find problems in purchasing clothes that can fit them well (Jebb,…
“Every day the teens get a comment that embeds in the psyche more and more they start brewing” (DeNoon). Words hurt and people do not realize how much they are affecting someone’s life. The obesity rate in America is very high but no one should have the right to judge someone because of their weight. Our generation is shown what they need to look like instead what they want to (DeNoon). Parents need to take action when they see their teen is getting bullied for their appearance. Teens should not be dying for what they look like. Some teens might also say their self-esteem is high just to fit in a clique (Wilde…