Societys Impact on Obesity

Society’s Impact on Obesity 1

Society’s Impact on Obesity

Suzanne Kiesler
Com 220
June 02, 2010
Axia College of University of Phoenix

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Obesity is on the rise in the Nation and society’s way of dealing with it is to ridicule, criticize, and blame the overweight person for their problem. CNBC reports that “ two out of three Americans are overweight (2010)”, and what society does not realize is that even though some people can control their weight problem with diet and exercise, there are others that cannot either because of genetic or medical problems that contribute to their obesity. Too many people in today’s society are cruel and unfair to the overweight individual in terms of trying to seek jobs, get medical insurance, or even providing clothing to fit. These issues and more can lead to even more problems for the overweight person. Obesity is not simply a problem of overeating it can also be a problem associated with low self-esteem, as well as other psychological and medical reasons that could include sexual abuse and dysfunctional relationships. Some people who are obese use eating as a way to cope with problems that affect them in everyday life. Some obese persons may endure problem behaviors such as eating disorders (bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa) and depression because of the scrutiny from society to be thin. According to The New Harvard Guide to Women “ afraid of being judged, some obese only nibble on acceptable low calorie foods when they eat in front of others, and make up the difference by binge eating in secret”(Para.12, 2004).It is wrong to assume that because someone is overweight they eat too much. That is not always the case. Sometimes the body just does not work right. There are a number of medical reasons that can cause someone to become overweight. Hypothyroidism, Cushings Disease, and even Diabetes are some medical causes of obesity. “The thyroid is responsible for basal metabolism in the body. This is how the body turns calories into usable heat energy” (Hackworth, 2008). If the thyroid function is too low, this does not happen and the body is unable to metabolize things properly and the body does not convert calories from food to a usable source. This will cause weight gain despite proper diet and exercise. “Cushings disease is caused by the body producing too much cortisol or, stress hormone, which is responsible for regulating blood pressure and the immune system as well as keeping the insulin levels in the body stable” (Hackworth, 2008). Diabetes as it relates to weight, puts a person at risk for being diabetic if they are overweight, however on the other hand, being diabetic puts one at risk for being overweight. Diabetes is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin. Even though these medical conditions explain only a small percentage of overweight people, that percentage does not even include the people that are on medications that are also known to cause weight gain, including some epilepsy medications, anti-depressants, and birth control pills. Obesity can run in ones family. For instance if one of the parents is obese than one is three times more likely to become obese than if they had parents of healthy weight. The way your body responds to food is genetically linked. Food intake and activity patterns reflect the influence of genetic factors. As a result of our cultures obsession with thinness, both overweight men and women are subjected to job discrimination, name calling by strangers and peers and ridicule. Some mental health effects of obesity include social discrimination, people often judge and mistreat individuals who are overweight. Obese people are seen as lazy and lacking willpower or unable to look after themselves properly. They are socially undesirable. Retrieved from an article from The Encyclopedia of Women and Gender, “non appearance related opportunities for success, though increasing, continue to be more limited for overweight woman than for overweight men. Women continue to make less money than men in most occupations and are particularly underrepresented at the highest level of government and business. In addition, women who are thin are more likely to get dates, beadmitted in college, and be hired for and promoted at work”(page 6. 2001). The workplace is becoming an increasingly harsh environment for overweight employees. Experts say more and more obese employees are feeling slighted by managers and co-workers. What’s causing the rise is unclear. Some say it could just be the increasing number of obese employees in the United States, while others speculate it may be a growing awareness of the problem and a rise in heavy workers speaking up about it. Another factor fueling the fire could be corporate America’s stepped-up efforts to cut health-care costs. Either way expect to earn less wages if you are overweight even if you have the same or better qualifications of the thinner person. [pic]

Delta Burke actress and author, recently started her own line of clothing for big women, after putting up with a lot of verbal abuse about her size. [pic] However, Santa Claus is obese, and society loves him,( even though he is fictional) and even encourages him to eat by leaving cookies for him every Christmas Eve. Society views him as “that jolly ol soul”. No one is calling him names because he is obese. [pic]

Begenning in youth, young people are ridiculed everyday by their peers for being overweight, with name calling and whispers. Overweight people know they are overweight because, constantly, incessantly, inescapably, from every source and every direction they are being told. Overweight kids don’t wear the cool clothes, because they don’t make cool clothes for fat kids, therefore retail tells them they are fat. When an overweight person goes to the doctor for anything, be it a cold or a sore throat, the Doctor will usually recommend them to lose weight and they will feel better. In High School, there is usually a gym coach who is into humiliating kids. Magazines tell them they are fat, television tells them they are fat and smelly and not wearing the right clothes. The clothes they cant buy because they are fat. Do not forget the internet, even there an overweight person can post a picture in a public forum and almost always there will be the inevitable comments “lose weight fatso” and “you should hang yourself if you can find a strong enough rope”. Imagine that. Obese people, even people that are only marginally fat, know they are fat because society is full of people who are ready to leap out with little or no remorse to remind them of it. Obese persons are treated differently, rights are denied, and made to feel they don’t fit into society, with expectations from society, that everyone should be fit and trim. While overweight people are already trying to cope with a hard to manage weight problem, society’s expectation of a perfect look, can lead some overweight people to depression and feelings of wanting to be dead. So, while it may be true that some obese persons do not take care of themselves. It has been proven that some overweight people do have medical problems that contribute to their obesity and possibly a genetic cause for their obesity. The next time one feels the need to be mean or cruel when they see a “fat” person, stop and think how that person may be feeling if there is nothing they can do about it. Don’t judge a book by its cover, if its never been read.

References:

Body Image Concerns. (2001). In Encyclopedia of Women and Gender: Sex Similarities and Differences and the Impact of Society on Gender. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/estwomen/body_image_concerns

Body Image. (2004). In New Harvard Guide to Women's Health, The. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/hupwh/body_image
CNBC reports One Nation Overweight. Prod. Scott Wapner. 18 May. 2010. Television
Hackworth, Georga. (2008) Medical causes for Obesity. Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/586159/medical_causes_for_obesity.html?cat=51
Hoffman, Duane, MSNBC.com (2007)
McFarland, Rhonda. (1989) Coping with Stigma. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc

Microsoft Corp. Clip Art (2003)

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Starpulse.com

Microsoft Corp.(2003)

References: Body Image Concerns. (2001). In Encyclopedia of Women and Gender: Sex Similarities and Differences and the Impact of Society on Gender. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/estwomen/body_image_concerns Body Image. (2004). In New Harvard Guide to Women's Health, The. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/hupwh/body_image CNBC reports One Nation Overweight. Prod. Scott Wapner. 18 May. 2010. Television Hackworth, Georga. (2008) Medical causes for Obesity. Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/586159/medical_causes_for_obesity.html?cat=51 Hoffman, Duane, MSNBC.com (2007) McFarland, Rhonda. (1989) Coping with Stigma. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc Microsoft Corp. Clip Art (2003) ----------------------- Starpulse.com Microsoft Corp.(2003)