Running head: Obesity and Behavior <!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>
Running head: Obesity and Behavior
Obesity and Behavior
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The University of Akron
OBESITY AND BEHAVIOR
Introduction
Millions of Americans are considered obese. Calculations of body mass index, BMI, are used to determine obesity. .Several factors to consider when contemplating this number and the fact that it is growing. Peralta indicates that a study in 1999 – 2000 revealed that 30.9% of the American population had a BMI of 30 or greater classifying them as obese. Obesity has been linked to genetics, disease, and life style related to exercise, and eating habits although these are not the only factors to be considered they are important. “In 2000 former surgeon general David Satcher MD drew attention to obesity being a national crisis declaring it a national epidemic.” As stated in the 2004 movie Super Size Me.
Social Origin
Eating habits of Americans is one that consists of fast food and junk food. Healthy nutritional foods are more expensive and often not readily available to the consumer. Fast paced life styles in our society have made fast food a regular choice of many people. Super Size Me noted that1 in 4 eat a meal at a fast food restaurant every day in America. Peralta writes “…the results of research reveals a dramatic increase in marketed portions sizes over time( ranging from candy bars to restaurant meals) and shed light on the context in which eating take place. (Spake, 2002; Winslow and Landers, 2002).” Advertising the supersized or go bigger meal packages by popular fast food establishments was successful in enticing customers to eat larger portions and therefore increasing the caloric and fat consumption and contributing to obesity.
Stigma
Obesity is considered both physical and behavioral in stigma. Society looks at obesity as a lack of will power, laziness, unintelligent, and other negative connotation. Peralta writes “Obesity itself is looked upon with antipathy because most Americans consider it unsightly and unaestitic.” Thio states “In the United States and other developed countries, obesity is more prevalent among the poor, but in poor countries the well-to-do are more likely to be fat.”
Solution
Education about nutrition is an action that could help society become more aware of the foods consumed and the effects of them. Reaching out to the pockets within the population that are at greater risk such as the economically disadvantaged could assist in slowing the epidemic. This education is not only about fast food and junk food effects on the body but also nutritional affordable alternatives to fast food. Information about healthy choices and substitution related to food and the entire experience around it. If some Americans choose fast food and junk food because of the ease and availability in their busy lifestyles other options can be shared and encouraged. Walking to the restaurant and selecting a healthier item from the menu. Recipes and prepare ahead of item meal ideas for quick preparation at meal time. Even information about the health benefits of slowing down to eat and allowing food to fill your stomach instead compared to consuming a large amount of food in a very short period of time.
….Thio indicated “…the stigma for fatness has spawned a huge industry selling diet books, exercise programs and equipment, diet pills, liposuctions, bariatric surgery…” Providing free or very list cost information about exercise and physical activity could allow more people access to the benefits of a more active lifestyle. This in turn could assist in decreasing the obesity within the population. With fewer people overweight fewer people will creep into obesity.
Control Methods
As a society weight control cannot be pressured. The stigma already exists but it does not offer the force to influence and control the excessive consumption of food and sedentary lifestyles. If the stigma did fewer American would be classified obese. Pressure from the fashion industry does not produce healthy results in many cases. Women see the thin models and may even want to emulate their look but often not through eating healthy and exercising but instead through eating disorders or surgery. There are areas that are controllable by federal and state guidelines and mandates; perhaps more such areas should exist. School lunches have taken a turn for a more nutritional healthy meal package over the last decade. If perhaps nutritional guidelines would be mandated across other areas the population would reap the health benefits and in turn a lifestyle change could also be possible. Even regulating hours of operation of fast food restaurants could help curb the 24/7 availability of fast food and therefore evoking a lifestyle for those choosing to make a quick run through the drive –thru at 10 PM 11 PM and even 2 AM. The pure convenience and availability of fast food could be controlled. Mandatory labeling of foods high in fat or low in nutritional value could contain a warning label to warn of the risks of obesity much like tobacco warns of the threat of cancer.
Summary
Statistics show obesity as an epidemic. There is no one short simple answer to control the obesity in America. In fact many smaller steps need to be taken and perhaps even thinking outside of the box for mandates on labeling would prove beneficial. The impact of obesity effects the population as a whole and therefore can be the concern of every one. Health benefits and insurance costs are just one of the larger impacts obesity has in America. Lifestyles and acceptable norms can change within the culture as obesity levels decrease. Advertising has brain washed some parts of society to believing that meals at a fast food establishment to be a positive choice. The visuals are enticing and sometimes even mouth watering, the children’s meals have popular characters, trinket toys, and appealing packaging and it is faster than preparing food at home. Education, information and awareness are all necessary; the public needs to be made aware of the dangers of fast food and junk food.
References
Peralta, R.L. (2003). Thinking sociologically about sources of obesity in the United States. Gender Issues, 21(3), 5-16.
Spurlock, M. (Director). (2004). Super size me. [Motion picture]. United States: Kathbur Pictures.
Thio, A. (2007). Deviant Behavior 9th edition. Boston. Pearson. 258- 259.
