Tuesday, July 29, 2008

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.

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