American White People In Obesity example essay topic

Obesity has increased in North American society (especially in the states). The United States has even been called an overweight nation. About 20% to 30% of American adults are now considered obese. Even though some Americans are in the healthy category, others enter the underweight, overweight, and even obese categories.

Not only is obesity unhealthy, but it is also considered unacceptable. People have been labeled and made fun of their entire lives do to obesity. For some this is an uncontrollable way of life. An example of this are shirts which say 'No Fat Chicks', showing that overweight people are unacceptable and undesirable. People are made fun of, often never to regain full acceptance. Some people are to be blamed for their poor health status, while others blame their heredity or ethnicity.

Many place the blame on more environmental sources. These might include, but are not limited to, education level and peer groups. The American Medical Association identifies genetic, environmental, and psychological influences on obesity. You are considered obese by the American Medical Association, if 30% of your body weight is fat... Obesity occurs when a person has a greater calorie intake than he or she burns during that day. Dr. Mary Ferguson believes that 'doctors need to encourage greater weight loss in obese patients due to the fact that obese people are twice as likely to die from such health conditions as heart disease, strokes, cancer, gallbladder disease and diabetes.

Dr. Ferguson also stated that the average number of deaths a year caused by obesity is 324,940 in the USA. There are many different type of treatments for this disorder including: diets, medications, and in some cases, behavior modifications. It is important for these fat people to receive the treatments available to them because obesity lowers the quality of life and makes the person more socially unacceptable. As treatment options increase, obesity also becomes less acceptable. Advances in technology have increased leading to the discovery of liposuction, a medical procedure where the individual's body fat is literally vacuumed out of their body. Since people often socialize with people who are more similar to them.

An obese person's group of friends may also be obese. Since they are obese, overeating is a natural thing to them and they may encourage the obese attitude and lifestyle. If two fat people are with each other, the chances of them over eating and not exercising regularly are like finding a needle in a haystack. The group makes each other feel better about their decisions and decide to participate themselves. Outside of this group, the group members are seen as deviant.

People are labeled deviant due to their attitudes, behaviors, or conditions. All of these contribute to obesity. Some attitudes might obtain an acceptance within a peer group or family for obesity. Behavior for obesity shouldn't be labeled deviant because its often uncontrollable, but some obese people become obese due to overeating and lack of activity. To be deviant also means to be abnormal, but in our society the term normal can't be defined. People choose what is normal and what isn't and the view is often one-sided.

Because a person is heavier than you or most people that you know, doesn't give you the right to label them as deviant. However, a person who is overweight and considered abnormal, has the ability to change their appearance and regain normal status in society. Overweight people who attempt to lose their weight are encouraged by people to carry it out, but after the weight has been lost it can be even harder to keep it off. When People regain the weight they are again looked down upon which can hurt the person's self esteem, an example of this would be that Oprah Winfrey is considered a yo-yo dieter because she has gone down and back up the scale several times (Entertainment Tonight). Oprah is a popular talk show host who has been in the public eye for years. Weight has been an issue for her whole life.

America has watched her lose weight only to gain it back over and over again. Many comments have been made on other television shows and in magazine articles. On the other hand, those who lose the weight and keep it off are accepted and considered strong. Skinny people believe that losing weight is easy and that overweight people are just lazy, and that after losing weight it should be easy to keep off. People who lose their weight and keep it off are considered role-models, many who have become motivational speakers and created weight loss programs. An example of this would be Richard Simmons.

The poor treatment towards overweight people can have positive results and benefits (American health's web site). Since its known that obesity causes several health disorders and can also increase the chance of early deaths, it has made more people pay special attention and to be more interested in their health, also has made people feel they may only be accepted if they have a superior body. Skinny people feel united with others who are like them and don't want to lose that bond so they take note of their diets. It also has given obese people something to think of involving their future and gives them motivation for losing their weight. 'Thin is in' is a popularly heard statement in America.

At one time, fat was attractive. Being overweight was seen as an indicator of power and riches. People who had money showed it through their ability to buy expensive foods and eat frequently. In the African American culture, overweight women are considered as beautiful.

This shows how public opinions of beauty differ from culture to culture. Often men prefer women who aren't thin in other countries but since our society desires thin, fit bodies, anything else is unacceptable. This may be a sign of why African Americans rate even higher then American White people in obesity. Reasons why obesity is unaccepted in our society varies.

The fact that our society's role models are skinny, attractive looking people may have a big part of it. Since people idolize Pamela Anderson for her terrible acting in 'Baywatch' and 'VIP', it shows that we are part of a shallow society where people are based and rated due to their looks. People who follow our society's definition of attractive may have a less chance in making something of themselves then someone who is 'hot'. A person who isn't appealing has a harder time and much work a lot harder to achieve the same status of somebody who gets through life based on their looks. In conclusion, obesity is a serious and dangerous disorder. If obese people are to be confronted or seeking help for it, it must be remembered that their feelings are probably fragile with the subject since they have been considered deviant and made fun of most of their lives.

Their is not immediate cure. The only thing that can be done is steady dieting, exercising and surgery. Just because the person doesn't look like you, doesn't mean they don't have feelings and that they aren't human beings as well. People should be seen for what's inside rather than what their appearance lacks. Besides, even if you feel that you are superior to a person suffering from obesity, in some cultures, you would be the less desirable person with the abnormal body.