...of those who attempt a diet will ultimately fail. This raises queries of why diets are inadequate and why most people are easily falling into unhealthy eating habits. It has become a challenge to make healthy choices in today’s society due to the availability of fast food, the influence the media plays, and the attractive prices associated with these aliments. Convenience foods are everywhere we look, in grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and even small gas stations. Grocery stores nearly pack every aisle with unhealthy foods such as frozen pizzas, microwave dinners and other quick serve items so it cuts food preparation time down to a couple of minutes. Fast food restaurants, like McDonalds, often persuade individuals to make eating unhealthy an easy choice; as it is quick and convenient. Also many individuals will eat what is available to them at the time, due to their packed schedules that leave no time for cooking healthy meals at home. From all you can eat buffets to fast foods, eating out is a common easy choice. Media advertisement plays an essential role in American culture. From radio commercials to TV advertisements, media has an ongoing active role in many American lives. The media can also influence the foods you decide to eat. Showing happy people eating big macs portrays that joy can come from eating at McDonalds, so we think we should eat there. Moreover fast food chains make their food sound tasteful and appealing, when in all reality they don’t...
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...I was born in the United States and grew up in Chicago where I lived with my family. Like most American communities, the society in Chicago demonstrates a wide range of cultural characteristics. The city is famous for improvisational comedy, invention, and other technologies, especially in the communication sector. However, from personal experience, there are several aspects of culture, which the residents of Chicago need to change to improve the quality of life in the city. One of the most notable elements of culture that must be transformed is eating habit. Many people in the town are accustomed to unhealthy food choices. For example, in Chicago, a significant number of kids are adapted to eating processed foods. Although most parents try...
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...options and choices. Options are things and choices are decisions based on available options. Radley Balko argues that there is an absence of moral obligation with regards to unhealthy people and their nutritional choices. However, if healthy food options at an affordable cost aren’t offered to general society or easily accessible, then what decisions do they truly have between their available options. Even though adopting unhealthy eating habits is a personal choice for some, affordable and accessible healthy food alternatives are essential to making conscientious nutrition choices. Balko’s position should be challenged because of the lack of nutritional equality in our society. In most cases, people...
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...Documentary Review Super-Size Me I. Summarize the documentary “Super Size Me”. Give a detailed description of the coverage of the documentary, and state briefly the “take away” message it gives. “Super-Size Me” is a an experiment created by Morgan Spurlock where he sets out an investigation to understand and prove how quickly and harmful fast food could be on a person’s body, health, and wellbeing. The primary concept revolves around eating nothing but McDonald’s food for a period of 30 days for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This meant that any food not on the McDonald’s menu was not allowed to be consumed during this process. As Morgan Spurlock was lying around at home watching the news, he came across a report on two teenage girls whose parents had sued McDonalds, blaming MacDonald’s for their girl’s obesity problem. This news impulses him to pursue an investigation and experience hands on the cause and effect that resulted from eating McDonald’s food. In the documentary, Spurlock begins as a very healthy person. In fact, his health was above average. He weighed about 185lbs and his body fat was less than below average at an (11%). His cholesterol was under 200 which for his height, (6 feet and 2 inches) he was considered a healthy individual. In preparation to begin, Spurlock informs three doctors from three different specialties to embark with him in his journey of 30 days. It consisted of a cardiologist, gastroenterologists, and a general practitioner...
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...Food and Culture Chapter 1 Food and Culture, Kittler & Sucher, 4th Edition, ©2004 Feeding and Eating • Food – Any substance that provides the nutrients necessary to maintain life and growth when ingested • When animals feed The repeatedly consume those foods necessary for their well-being – Do so in a familiar manner at each feeding • Human do not feed, they eat Food and Culture, Kittler & Sucher, 4th Edition, ©2004 Feeding and Eating Differences • Eating is distinguished from feeding by the way in which humans use food • Humans not only gather and hunt food – Humans cultivate plants and raise livestock • Certain foods are regularly available to a group – This Leads to development of specific food customs Food and Culture, Kittler & Sucher, 4th Edition, ©2004 Feeding and Eating Differences • Humans: – Cook food • Greatly expands the number and variety of edible substances available – Choose what foods to eat together • Create meals – Use utensils • Have rules and manners – Share food – Have standards about who eats with whom Food and Culture, Kittler & Sucher, 4th Edition, ©2004 Food Habits (Food Culture or Foodways) • Refer to the ways in which humans use food – How it is selected, obtained and distributed – Who prepares, serves and eats it • This is part of what makes us human Food and Culture, Kittler & Sucher, 4th Edition, ©2004 Omnivore’s Paradox • Humans can consume and can digest a wide...
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...Should over-eating that leads to obesity be considered an eating disorder? Introduction The twenty-first century has seen many changes in body image from previous decades, ranging from all different body shapes and sizes. As the media is glorifying slenderness and a thin physique the rates of obesity all over the world are still increasing at an exceptional level. Obesity can be simply defined as having too much excess body fat that is considered healthy for a person’s height. Obesity after several decades of controversy has been finally recognised as a disease by the obesity Society in 2008. Just like all other diseases obesity can have very serious consequences on a person’s health. There are a lot of factors that come into context to determine if someone is obese or not. Currently the most convenient way to diagnose obesity is by examining a person’s BMI (Body mass Index). If an adult’s BMI results come back with a figure ranging between 25-30 they are likely considered to be overweight thus any score over 30 is on the scale of obesity. Obesity rates will continue to soar if people don’t take immediate action. Obesity is not always the result of excessive over eating or an extreme lack of exercise and physical activity, but it also is the result of biological and behavioural factors. (A)What are the causes of obesity? The cause of obesity is not always clear. Individual differences will play a huge role in determining what the cause of obesity is. The most known...
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...Pollan discusses the eating habits or Americans and how those need to change in order for us to create a healthier society. One of the issues the Pollan has with food is that he believes it to be and ethical issue. In my opinion food is only an ethical issue to a certain extent. Some members of society find it to be an ethical issue when animals we later eat are put into poor conditions. Another way that I find it becomes an ethical issue is when the government gets involved in the food industry. Sometimes they make choices for us that are not for the health of the nation, but that will create a profit for the government. One example of this is subsidies on soy, therefore increasing the usage of soy in many products. Although it is cheap it is not always the healthiest option. Another way the government has influenced the food crisis is the way in which they speak about food. There was a bill passed that suggested that citizens eat less red meat. The red meat industry did not like this and fought until the bill later spoke only of reducing the intake of nutrients in red meat. This made it more complicated for the consumer and did not make the food crisis better for the average citizen. I believe that the government should have some say in the way our food is grown and processed, but only to protect us. If they...
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...rebuke to our self-denial, and to our shaky faith that if we watch ourselves, then surely death cannot touch us”(58.) Prose's explains that if people eat the right way and disengage with the desires of unhealthy eating, that humans can live a longer and more prosperous life. Images and examples of abnormal body types, regarded, as such in our culture, are used as role models for what not to become, such as the photos of the obese and anorexic, are not appealing to the eye, and can help implement new ideas on how to offer healthier and more nutritious food at institutions, such as work places and schools. Modern day culture is overflowing with idealistic pictures and propaganda...
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...Contributing Factors to Various Eating Disorders Introduction The proposed topic discussed throughout this research will be eating disorders, specifically on the contributions to various eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, athletica nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Through much research, it is shown there are larger causes to these eating disorders. It is no longer a psychological factor (brain chemical misbalance). There are greater forces that influence eating disorders such as the mass media, family, stress (sense of identity), community (peers/school), and negative body image (which links to mass media). It is important to know these contributions to eating disorders because, the more one knows about the various factors for an eating disorder, the easier it will become to treat these disorders (help one suffering with an eating disorder cope and become healthier.) Throughout the 21st century, eating disorders have become more common among North American teens. With a higher percentage rate of eating disorders in the 21st century, (Sneddon, 1999, p.35) it shows it is an area that should have greater focus. Not only does it have a negative impact on the individual who is battling it, it has a negative impact on society; an impact that could destroy our society – mentally if we (as a community/society) do not help or treat this in the way it should be. An eating disorder can tear apart someone’s morals, eat at their brain – which means with it becoming more...
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... It is explored via multiple perspectives such as art, history, sociology, psychology, social justice and economics. With psychology having the largest connection to food studies, researchers can look deeply into eating and find a deeper meaning to help them understand humanity in a greater way. A meal has the image of unity and brings people together. Food choices can tell stories of families, groups and individuals. “The ways in which foods are eaten in various nationalities signified unconscious attributes and qualities” ( “Thinking Made Easy” ). Humans live by symbols to make sense of this world, to help organize and to give meaning to our existence. Every group, whether it is bound with religion or social status, thinks of itself as “special and exceptional and uses food to show it” ( Civitello ). During the Chinese New Year, traditional dishes are carried with great significance based upon superstitions affiliated with spirituality. The Chinese “serve the fish whole with head and tail intact to represent a good beginning and a good Brown 2 end for the coming year. Serving fish this way is also supposed to symbolize wealth, as the Chinese word for fish, ‘yu,’ sounds like the word for abundance” ( "10 Foods You Should Be Eating" ). Everything about how humans cook and eat has extended...
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...Child Obesity Child obesity is a social epidemic presenting challenges to the Government, society and the American family today. It crosses a variety of ethnic, geographic, economic and social environments. Obesity is causing an increase strain on the healthcare system, contributing to the $150 billion annual cost of healthcare provided, which is a breakdown of almost 10 percent of the National medical budget. Obesity increases risks for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. (National center for the chronic disease prevention and health promotion, division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity, 2011, p. 1) “Approximately one in six children are obese in the United States today”. (National center for the chronic disease prevention and health promotion, division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity, 2011, p. 1) “80% of obese adolescents will be obese as adults”. ("Childhood Obesity Prevention," 2014, p. 2) According to a study released January 2014, only “1 in 4 teens are participating in one hour of moderate activity every day”. (Doheny, 2014, para. 1) “Obesity levels for American Indians and Alaska Natives are increasing. Obesity among children in these ethnic groups showed a rise of about a half percentage point each year from 2003 to 2008. For 2008, obesity was highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives, with 21.2 % being obese. Hispanics were second, with an obesity rate of 18.5%. Whites came in third, with 12.6%...
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...Despite the fact that it is not completely the fault of Alana's Thompson's mother for her obese condition, the eating practices implemented by her has created an obstacle on her health. She can barely run long distances and she weighs 125 pounds and stands at 4-foot-6. That means her body mass index (BMI) is equal to or greater than the 95th percentile, which classifies her as obese. Her BMI is calculated by using her height and weight measurements to estimate her body fat, which can indicate her health or well-being. She also has too much body fat, which could lead her to have illnesses and other health problems in the future because of it. Admittedly, BMI is not an entirely accurate indicator. It cannot successfully determine the health of...
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...concept of food choice is ‘multifaceted, situational, dynamic, and complex’ (Sobal and Bisogni 2009, 38). We live in a society where the mass production of food has led to an extremely wide variety of choice in the foods we eat (Germov and Williams 2008, 10). Therefore, it is important that we understand the reasons for which we choose the food we eat, and to have an insight into the factors which dictate our food choices. There are three main factors which should be considered when making our food choices; biological determinants, economic and physical determinants and social determinants. These three broad factors will be discussed in relation to determining our personal food choice. The biological determinants include physiological factors of the food itself, as well as our own personal hunger. Humans need energy and nutrients in order to survive and therefore the body’s physiological processes create a sensation of hunger and a subsequent need for food. Satiation occurs as food is being eaten which leads to satiety where food is no longer needed to be consumed (Bellisle 2005, par 4-7). The different nutrients in our foods cause the satiation process to vary in effectiveness. ‘Fat has the lowest satiating power, carbohydrates have an intermediate effect and protein has been found to be the most satiating’ (Stubbs et al. 1996, 409). Hunger and satiety therefore play a major role in the timing and size of meals and is therefore a major factor in our food choice. Another aspect...
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...WHAT DETERMINES OBESITY IN TODAY’S SOCIETY ITT Technical Institute 200 Ballardvale Street, Suite 200 Wilmington, MA 01887 978-658-2636 What Determines Obesity in Today’s Society The Abstract Why is there such an issue with obesity in the United States? To determine this there have been many studies in which I will present three if the studies I found in this report, along with my own observation and mailing surveys. Some of the major findings that I noticed that came up over and over are that the serving sizes in most restaurants are too big, TV ads that show fatty foods to influence people to want to try them, and why is fast food being served at schools? The Introduction “What Determines Obesity in Today’s Society?” In this research paper there are findings from three different studies on obesity and how it can affect a person’s health and well-being. Some of the questions that have been asked are “why are serving sizes so big?” ”Why are there so many TV ads showing fatty foods?” “Why is fast food being served in schools?” The importance of this study is to make people more aware of what they are eating and help them make better life choices. Literature Review From the three different studies on obesity and how it can affect a person’s health and well-being. In the first study “Why we’re so Fat” it states things like our serving sizes are too big, and there are many TV ads showing fatty foods. The second study “Obesity in the United States: Public...
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...Unhealthy Eating and Self-Perception Much of nutrition focuses on the individual who is responsible for picking the right foods, eating healthy, exercising, and doing what’s best for their body. Nutrition consultations are one-on-one, focused on the single person’s dietary needs and deficiencies. However most of us are a part of a larger network of people, whether it be because we’re married, work in a large office, or have a tight-knit group of friends. Who we eat with, as it turns out, has a big impact on what we eat (Delormier, Frohlich, and Potvin, 2009). The idea of eating as a social activity is nothing new, but how food choices are influenced by these social interactions may impact body image and self-esteem in the long run. Also, body mass indexes (BMI’s) and gender play into the relationship. This paper will focus on the social aspects of eating and how unhealthy eating affects body image and self-esteem. Fast food has become an icon for inexpensive, tasty, and quick meals. In 2009, consumers in America “spent almost $600 billion at fast food restaurants” alone (Tangari, Burton, Howlett, Cho, and Thyroff, 2010, p. 2). However, most fast food is deemed unhealthy, because it is “high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium” (Tangari, Burton, Howlett, Cho, and Thyroff, 2010, p. 2). Does this stop people from eating it? Obviously not, but how do people feel after they eat it? One way that someone can evaluate their feelings about themselves, is to consider their...
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