Obesity in Society Today

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at several writers who emphasize that, while obesity is a reality, there is also a wider stereotyping of overweight people that leads to bias and prejudice that in turn causes psychological depression and anxiety, which can actually increase the problem of obesity. The paper discusses the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) organization that is involved in raising public awareness about unfair prejudice. The paper concludes that the issue of obesity in terms of its understanding and perception in society is in need of a reevaluation.

From the Paper:

"However, while the fact of obesity is not in dispute what are more difficult to ascertain are the causes of obesity. Notwithstanding the fact that many studies clearly show that numerous cases of obesity are due to biological and hereditary problems, this factor is not taken into account in the societal judgment and perceptions of those with a severe overweight problem. In fact, there is in most western societies an intense and endemic prejudice towards those who are excessively overweight. This prejudice is also related to social norms, which stress an ideal of beauty and health that favors thinness. Therefore, fat people are often automatically seen as being ugly. Associated with these perceptions are many unrealistic, unfair and biased views about fat people - for example, that fat people are lazy and generally decadent."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hearne. S. et al. F as in Fat: How obesity policies are failing in America. April 20, 2008. <http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:pbbUEelBegwJ:healthyamericans .org/reports/obesity/ObesityReport.pdf+The+Centers+for+Disease+Contro l+reports+only+eight+percent+of+elementary+schools+offer+daily+physic al+education+classes hl=en>
• Kreulen G. Informing the Debate. 2002. April 18, 2008.: <http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:JWkJLOl52YUJ:www.ippsr.msu.e du/Publications/HPWeight.pdf+The+Centers+for+Disease+Control+report s+only+eight+percent+of+elementary+schools+offer+daily+physical+educ ation+classes hl=en>
• NAAF Policy: ADOPTION DISCRIMINATION. April 18, 2008. http://www.naafa.org/documents/policies/adoption.html
• NAAF Policy: EDUCATION DISCRIMINATION. April 18, 2008.http://www.naafa.org/documents/policies/education.html
• NAAF Policy: EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION. April 18, 2008. <http://www.naafa.org/documents/policies/employment.html>

More papers on Obesity in Society Today:

• Term Paper # 134234 : "Obesity in America"
• Research Paper # 57666 : "Obesity in the Western World"
• Analytical Essay # 134255 : "The Problem of Childhood Obesity"

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