SOCIAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY
SOCIAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY
SOCIAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY
Anyone who has watched an episode of Friends or The OC has seen the glorified ideal of being thin; the characters are extremely thin and ultimately many people who watch the show are inclined to want to lose weight, even if they do so in harmful ways. Unrealistic and unhealthy ideals of thinness are presented everywhere in the media—particularly in movies, television, and magazines.
These images compel many people to try tactics (both conventional and unconventional) to lose weight, firm up, and match these ideals. In large part because of the “thinner is better” message put forth by the media, obese individuals experience social and emotional stress because of their weight. In the United States, Canada, and other Westernized societies, there are powerful messages that people should be thin and that overweight individuals have poor self-control.
Negative attitudes toward obese people may lead to discrimination in employment or college acceptance, even though this kind of discrimination is illegal. Some obese people, particularly adolescents, may experience an increased incidence of depression and emotional stress. Teens may also have a poor self-image and feelings of isolation, as well as directed messages of negativity from peers.
OBESITY TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES
It is estimated that 50% of adults in the United States are overweight, with approximately half of those falling into the obese category. The prevalence of obesity in adults has increased approximately 60% in the United States between
the years 1991 and 2001.
Studies show that children are getting heavier as time goes on. A comparison of childhood obesity studies completed in 1961 against similar studies completed today revealed that the incidence of childhood obesity has doubled. This trend exposes an ever-increasing number of children both to the societal impacts of being overweight and to a number of potentially serious health problems, not the least of which are diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.
In the USA, approximately 30% of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are overweight and 15% are obese. Children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to be overweight as adults. Overweight children ages 10 to 14 who have at least one overweight or obese parent were reported to have an almost 80% chance of remaining overweight as they enter adulthood.4 Obesity tends to be most prevalent among certain groups, such as specific minority groups, people with low incomes, and people with less education. In some cases, people within a certain ethnic group may be taught traditional methods of cooking that are high in fat (for example, frying chicken instead of baking it).
Certain cultures more readily accept larger body types and therefore do not have a negative view of obesity. People with less education are less likely to know the health risks associated with obesity, and therefore have a
higher rate of this condition. With the high prevalence and steady increase in overweight and obesity in the United States comes a steady increase in the use of various diet supplements, including both nonprescription and prescription diet pills
OBESITY TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES
SOCIAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY
The percentage of Americans who are obese has risen significantly in recent years and is at an all-time high, as demonstrated in this map from the year 2000. The rise in obesity is seen in males and females of all ages, including children. This increase in obesity has also been seen in all racial and ethnic groups. The increase in obesity is attributed to decreased exercise and manual labor, along with consumptionof larger portions of high-calorie, high--fat foods.
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