...Medicalization of Obesity Obesity is measured by the level of a person’s body mass index (BMI), and is determined based on an individual’s height and weight. As noted in Sternheimer’s Connecting Social Problems and Popular Culture, “between 1980 and 2000, the number of children classified as overweight doubled for those aged two through eleven and tripled for adolescents twelve to nineteen” (198). In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presents separate statistics for obese and overweight individuals in order to bring urgency to what they claim as a problem. As claimsmakers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insist that the problem is getting worse by noting that it is an “obesity epidemic,” and categorizes the overweight population as part of the epidemic (Best 127). As a result, society begins to frame this social problem by medicalization. Moreover, Andrew Pollack from The New York Times notes that the American Medical Association has officially medicalized obesity as a disease in his article titled, “A.M.A. Recognizes Obesity as a Disease” (Pollack). Thus, I will attempt to discuss the medicalization of obesity and how it affects society. Medicalization is one of the ways in which to frame a social problem. To clarify, medicalization transpires when previously nonmedical issues become defined and regarded as medical problems (Blackburn 895). However, the real question is—will medicalizing obesity as a disease actually address this problem or will...
Words: 967 - Pages: 4
...Obesity – A Social Problem Society is an integral part one “self”. Social problems are the root cause for many other problems. Being obese is not anymore a personal problem. It is ripened into a huge social problem. Let’s brush up the problems caused due to Obesity in today’s modern world. This is an age of modern living, superior technology, luxurious day-to-day, exaggerated money and last but not the least trending obesity. Growing number of cases of obesity has made it into a fully grown social problem. Child obesity is a much talked about topic in today’s era. What could be the cause of this? The modernization of our living has took us to the top of the ladder on one side and it drenches us in a hollow pit called obesity. The changing life style has brought us into a world of the so called junk foods. These foods are considerable only if there is adequate amount of physical activity. White-collar jobs make us stagnate in a place. Though there is stagnation at work, we could take up initiatives for physical work outs. Rising percentage of obese cases is a red signal for us to stop and think. Obesity knows no boundaries. Any individual who shows least care for his fitness is subjected to obese. Though dumb, people are adjudged by appearances. Here comes the play of the society in the individual. An obese individual faces a social apathy. Child obesity is still worse. Obese children are highly prone to clownishness. When a child faces this kind of ridicule, he/she is subjected...
Words: 456 - Pages: 2
...Social Analysis Report Children Obesity Mengtong Huang Holly Lachapelle Jung Ohyeon Professor Fidaa Shehada Global Citizenship (GNED500204) Due date: December 3, 2015 Introduction of children abesity and connected with GNED 500(by Holly Lachapelle) The topic of our social analysis is child obesity. As far as we know, childhood obesity is becoming a growing epidemic in the modern world. According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, “The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.” (Ogden,2012) These numbers are concerning because childhood obesity leads to long term health risks including diabetes, heart disease and many cancers. As our society becomes increasingly technologically driven, our youth are becoming less and less physically active. Today’s children are more likely to send a friend a text rather than run over to their house and “call on them”. Modern conveniences and entertainment such as videogames, television, the internet, facebook and kid-friendly fast food joints play a major role in the growing rate of childhood obesity. Currently there are many efforts being made to slow down or reverse the negative effects of living in modern day society for our children. Some of these attempts include increased awareness about nutrition and...
Words: 4176 - Pages: 17
...Nowadays, people are emphasizing too much on pursuit of wealth in their life yet overlooked the importance of health. Recently, the issues related to obesity around the world are increasing as well as in our country. Obesity in Malaysia is growing in an alarming rate and it has associated with multiple problems. Ismail (2002) claimed that 20.7% of Malaysia’s adults are overweight with a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9. According to Asia Pacific Family Medicine, obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other mammals, is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality (2009). Not only adults, childhood obesity also become one of the serious problems. It grown considerably in the past two decades and most of the children are more likely become overweight adults. Obesity will lead to suffering from the disease, for example heart attack and diabetes. According to Price, Danielle and Nicholas (2000), there are around 300,000 people die each year because infect the disease that causes by obesity (as cited by Sidik and Rampal, 2009). Generally, I strongly agree that obesity is a kind of disease among Malaysian because obesity can cause physical, mental and social problem. First and foremost, obesity can cause negative effects to our bodily systems, which will further affect our physical health. People who excesses weight will more care about their body health, compare to normal...
Words: 1398 - Pages: 6
...Childhood obesity is a major concern for parents, teachers, and the medical community with differing philosophies and theories on causes and prevention. Inactivity, genetics, technology and parenting attitudes and beliefs are factors which contribute to childhood obesity. Peer pressure and social circles also create an epidemic of children overweight or obese. Intervention by parents, physicians and the educational system with support and nutrition with physical activity instruction can help create a culture of informed children. Childhood obesity is a major concern for parents, teachers and health care providers. Children will gain weight as they grow and develop. The problem presents when a child has extra pounds not needed for normal growth and development. Extra weight leads to obesity and particularly for a young child or adolescent can create serious medical conditions continuing into adulthood. Researching and determining particular and specific causes for childhood obesity can help in educating and motivating children and parents towards behavior changes to correct and prevent childhood obesity. Criteria for determining obesity in children rely on body mass index (BMI) in relation to overall weight, age, height and body structure. A BMI in children ages 6 to 19 years of age between the 85th and 94th percentiles is considered in the normal range, while anything over the 95th percentile is considered obese (Hampl and Summar, 2009). While there are many factors believed...
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
...Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity: The Causes and Cure of Childhood Obesity Patricia Harris Epidemiology and Applied Healthcare Statistics June 17, 2011 Childhood Obesity: The Causes and Cure of Childhood Obesity In the United State the current childhood obesity epidemic is caused by fast food industries, video games, poor eating habits and the lack of exercise. This disease affects adults and children in the United States (Evans2006). Obesity is the state of being well above one’s normal weight. Children are becoming sick and being overweight because of this condition. ( medterms 2008). Everyday one in four children (from ages 5 to 18) eats fast food. As a result, children are gaining extra pounds daily while increasing the risk of obesity. Child obesity from fast food consumptions is an issue for parents because of the health risks associated by obesity. Fast food products contain higher fats, carbohydrates, sugars, and calories than any other products. As a result, children of all ages worldwide are accumulating excess weight because of unbalanced nutrients found in these products. According to several studies, child obesity from fast foods is a major problem because children consume over 120 extra calories daily. Poor nutritional habits are one of the important reasons for childhood obesity. Television and Video games Another problem that could lead to obesity is playing video games...
Words: 1539 - Pages: 7
...Childhood obesity Childhood obesity is a condition where children have excess body fats and weigh more than the recommended weight in accordance to their height. Obesity and overweight are usually measured using body mass index (BMI) which is calculated using the height and weight of a person. According to Centre for disease control and prevention (Childhood obesity facts) obesity is a result of caloric imbalance that is consumption more calories than the calories body expends. The causes of childhood obesity are lifestyle habits and behaviors, genetic s or family history, environmental factors, metabolism and in some cases medical conditions. The most contributing factor in childhood obesity is lifestyle behaviors such as lack of physical exercise, unhealthy eating habits and or combination of those. In present day lifestyle habits are characterized by consumption of junk foods that have high calories from fats and sugars and low proteins, vitamins and minerals. Also children are now physically in active because of watching TVs, social media and playing computer games. The result of such life style is that more calories are consumed and fewer calories are used by the body leading to obesity. There is numerous health risks associated with childhood obesity. While some health risks are immediate others are long-term. The immediate health risks affect the child while still in childhood while the long term comorbidities will affect the child later in adulthood (lakshmsn,...
Words: 645 - Pages: 3
...Childhood Obesity in the United States of America Tolulope Adedokun Introduction to psychology Dr. Michael Gawrysiak November 28, 2014 Table of contents Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Causes of Obesity ………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Heredity …………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Social Environment ……………………………………………………………………… 5 Social Status …………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Birth Weight …………………………………………………………………………….. 6 Effects of Obesity ………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Health Effects ……………………………………………………………………………. 7 Mental Effects …………………………………………………………………………… 7 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 Solutions to Childhood Obesity in The United States of America ………………………………. 8 References ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 9 Abstract Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developing countries especially in the United States of America. Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and 11% are obese. Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on both physical and psychological health. This paper describes the causes, effects, and solutions to childhood obesity in the...
Words: 1891 - Pages: 8
...Chunlin Du Breastfeeding, Health Lifestyle and Government Support ——Best Way to solve Childhood Obesity Problem Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century (Global Strategy on Diet). According to the research report from World Health Organization (WHO), the childhood obesity prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. Globally, in 2010 the number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated to be over 42 million. Close to 35 million of these are living in developing countries (Global Strategy on Diet). Extreme obesity among American children is much worse than previously believed. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, childhood obesity affects approximately 12.5 million children and teens (17% of that population). Changes in obesity prevalence from the 1960s show a rapid increase in the 1980s and 1990s, when obesity prevalence among children and teens tripled, from nearly 5% to approximately 15% (Figure 1) (Popovic 42). Source: T. Popovic, "CDC Grand Rounds: Childhood Obesity in the United States." MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 60.2 (2011): 42-46.Web. 28 Mar. 2012. Compare with the numbers of obese children, the more worrying things are health issues of childhood obesity. Obesity poses a significant public health threat to children for reasons that affect both their current and future health. Immediate health effects included: obese youth are more likely...
Words: 2949 - Pages: 12
...RUNNING HEAD: CHILDHOOD OBESITY 1 Childhood Obesity C. Kevin Barr SOC120 John Meeks February 8, 2013 CHILDHOOD OBESITY 2 Childhood Obesity and the Health Concerns Obesity is such a hot topic in America today and childhood obesity and the ethical arguments over obesity has greatly increased over the last 10 years. Health problems that occur from this deadly disease is something that no one wants to talk about. When people think about health, what usually is discussed is cancer or heart disease. Not many people really think about one of the biggest issues out there that is really not taken very seriously and that is obesity. In America there are hundreds of thousands of children that are overweight. Obesity is a disease, a disease associated with many other health issues, including congestive heart problems, diabetes among other physical and mental complications associated with this disease. We will discuss throughout this paper how one of the classical theories would help resolve the problems that are associated with the dangers of childhood obesity, then discuss the perspective of society and how it relates to relativism in today's world. There are many arguments about how childhood obesity starts, who's to blame for allowing this to happen and societies ethical and moral obligation associated with fixing the problem. Who or what is to blame for the...
Words: 1692 - Pages: 7
...found on http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm. II. Topic- Obesity in children is a serious problem because it can cause several serious physical and social consequences that may become chronic in adulthood. III. Importance- Childhood obesity is steadily becoming a large scale problem. It not only affects those who have children, it also affects the country as a whole. Obese children require more health care which can result in a strain on our country’s health care system. IV. Preview of Main Points- First, I will discuss the causes of childhood obesity. Next, I will talk a little bit about the health conditions that are caused by childhood obesity such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and some cancers. Finally, I will talk about ways to prevent childhood obesity. BODY I. Next, we will discuss the diseases and health conditions that are caused by childhood obesity. A. According to www.mayoclinic.org there are several physical health conditions that can occur as a result of childhood obesity. An obese child is at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. A poor diet, which is often associated with obesity, can result in high blood pressure or high cholesterol. These two conditions contribute to a buildup of plaque in the arteries which can cause the arteries to narrow and harden and can eventually result in a heart attack or stroke. On the website www.cancer.gov it states that obesity is linked to an increased risk of numerous...
Words: 506 - Pages: 3
...Social Problem of Child Obesity Name Instructor Institution Date Social Problem of Child Obesity Childhood obesity is a health related condition characterized by the child having excess body fat. The excess fat negatively affects the health of the child and predisposes a child to other health related conditions. Obesity in children has been on the rise in the recent times due to different reasons. According to Macionis children who are overweight are approximately one-fifth of the population. In the United States, the condition has almost quadrupled from 7% in the 80s to 18% in recent years. According to findings by CDC 1 in every 8 children in preschool is obese. Conventionally the condition was caused by over-eating but continued sociological inquiry reveals there are other causes. Changing lifestyles patterns are a major contributor towards this increase. The condition is not very easy to diagnose as there no direct methods to determine body fat. The condition has several distinguishing signs and can be prevented by use of various methods (2003). According Macionis personal health is not solely a matter of personal choice or a biological issue but patterns of health and illness stem from the organization of a society (Macionis 2003). This implies that the conditions are dependent on many factors that are social in nature. Obesity may result due to genetic interplay with the environment such as polymorphisms in human genes which control metabolism and appetite....
Words: 1556 - Pages: 7
... 2013 DR. Michelle Clemons Health Campaign Part l of this paper examined obesity as a public health issues that faces the state of Atlanta. Further, the paper dwelt on the importance of addressing this public health issues because it has an impact on the lives of the people at the community, state, and national levels. Providers believe that environmental and community factors contribute to unhealthy habits, less physical activity, which poses a major risk for chronic health conditions. The following are chronic health conditions: diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high cholesterol, asthma, dyspnea and depression. These health consequences can lead to premature death and chronic health conditions, which reduces the quality of life. In the Atlanta area, obesity has increased over the past 10 years in which affects an individual life. Health care organizations have established health objectives to reduce the prevalence of obesity among individuals in America. Description of the target population Obesity occurs when there is an abnormal amount of fat (adipose tissue) accumulated around the body, caused when people eat in excess of their energy requirements (Lawrence, 2005). According to National Heart and Lung Institute (2010) “the terms overweight and obesity refer to a person’s overall body weight and whether it’s too high” (What are overweight and obesity, para. 1). An individual is overweight when he or she is above a weight because of...
Words: 2149 - Pages: 9
...Marsha Lovingood Final Position Paper Eng112:On-line Does Social Media/Networking Contribute To Our National Obesity Problem? The creation of the Internet has caused an explosion of new technologies, especially in the last ten years. Social Networking has become more than a way to communicate with others and has crossed the line into an addiction for some people. In my opinion, our culture is being impacted in a harmful way with the amount of time people spend using social networking sites and the internet, it appears to be a factor in the rising obesity problem our nation is experiencing. According to the YouTube video, Oct 23, 2011, , “The Social Media Revolution 2013”, Americans are spending over 15 hours a week or more in some cases, on-line using social networking sites to communicate with family, friends, and acquaintances. This reduces the time we are spending exercising and engaging in physical activities for physical health. We are becoming a society of overweight couch potatoes who spend too much time on-line while healthy lifestyle habits fall by the wayside. However, there are positive impacts on our culture because of the invention of the internet and social media; we are able to keep in contact with those we want to interact with around the clock, any time of day or night. We share music, videos, and pictures with all of our friends through social networking sites and we can post comments and information on our friends’ pages with ease. We can log...
Words: 1707 - Pages: 7
...PREVENTION OF OBESITY IN CHILDHOOD Introduction What is health The World Health Organisation (WHO 1986)defines health as a state of complete physical ,mental and social well being and not just the absence of disease and infirmity. Forster (2002) confirms that health is generally seen in terms of people being ill or well but indicates that this is a simplistic view, as being well or ill are not entirely separate notions but in fact overlap to some degree. Forster(2002) while concurring with the definition of health as provided by the WHO (1986) adds that this definition provides a positive view of health and suggest that health fluctuates over time along a continuum, good and poor health appearing at opposite poles of the continuum. Ewles and Simnett(2003) also suggest that health is determined by many factors such as Physical health, body function, Societal health living accomodation ,employment status , Spiritual health, religious beliefs and moral values or behaviours, Social health being able to sustain relationships and make friends, Emotional health the ability to cope with depression, stress and anxiety. Therefore an individuals health position along this continuum is variable but no distinct demarcation line between health and ill health exists. With regards to the definition given it is argued that health professionals interventions should focus on helping the clients ,individuals, families and communities to gain health related knowledge, attitudes and practice associated...
Words: 2972 - Pages: 12
