The Constructionist Perspective of Obesity

Abstract In this study I will explore the kind turn of events of fleshiness and how it form into a societal worry. Recent and growing media attention surrounding fleshiness in the get together States, the so-called obesity epizootic remains a exaltedly taked scientific and social fact. This paper examines the contemporary obesity debate done systematic examination of the claims and claim-makers involved in the controversy.I will non take sides, but merely show and clearly explain from each one sides views on the obesity epidemic. neighborly Construction of Global Warming . Social Construction Process Cr eating a social occupation development the social expressionist approach requires an audience who conceives that there is in fact a business before that topic is considered a social problem. There is a suffice to creating a social problem starting with claims, claims- qualification, audiences and claims competitions.Regard slight of whether claims atomic number 18 verbal, visual, or behavioral, they argon the social problems work of claims- makers who want to convince audiences how to think about social problems and how to feel about these problems. (Lose,2009) In this paper I will deal the process n which obesity is viewed as an epidemic so indeed is a social problem. We conduct to ask ourselves, who atomic number 18 the deal making this claim, who atomic number 18 they trying to orient, and be they being successful? In an some other(prenominal) words is the objectiveed audience being persuaded in the doctrine obesity is an epidemic?In this process I will compare and contrast dickens arguments dealing with obesity. One set of views is obesity is a problem of case-by-caseists making bad choices and on the other hand there is a belief the nutrient exertion has increased portion sizes and markets unhealthy food options with high fat, calories etc. So that obesity is understood as more than conscionable an individual issue. Th e sub argument is how should h former(a) dearment is administered. Do health get by professionals localize individuals and teach them a healthy life-style or do you target the food fabrication to make changes in their products? II.Claim-maker of corpulency The healthcare industry finds the obesity epidemic of great interest due to the strong company between obesity and obesity related health side effects. some(prenominal) studies have been done to monitor the increase of obesity with in United States. Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state, consort to F as in Fat How Obesity Threatens Americas Future 2011, a report from the Trust for Americas Health (TFH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (ROWS). Twelve states at one time have obesity rates above 30 percent.Four years ago, besides one state was above 30 percent. (F as in, 2011) As a result of these findings augments among health care professionals were establish localiseing on the cause of obesity. One group of healthcare professionals believes the problem is an individual persons forgetful decision making which leads to obesity. If a person is making bad hoicks in their eating habits and does not exercise then that person will at long last become obese. The other set of professionals would argue it is not in individual choice, but their environment in which they live in.Food companies are targeting their run downrs with ads and their increased potion sizes so whence more and more populate are decorous obese. two sides of the argument believe there is connection between obesity and obesity related health side effects. Each side has different beliefs on how to combat the obesity epidemic. One side of the house is revolve arounded on curing obesity while the other side focuses on prevention. A. man-to-man Problem Claim-makers who feel obesity is an individual problem use individuality as their targeted moralities.There is a belief s ystem that people embrace individualism, autonomy, and certificate of indebtedness for their actions. The belief in the importance of individuals unloosedom to choose the types of food they consume and to have a more active lifestyle is embraced by some people. It is estimated that the leading cause of death in the United States is caused by lifestyle much(prenominal) as smoking, diet, exercise and sexual practices. (Adler & Stewart, 2009) Since studies have shown lifestyle is a cause f obesity, medical professionals using the medical model focus on the individual patient for a cure.They not only focus on lifestyles but transmittables and family history. To them behavioral choices and therapy is the main target for intervention. Obesity is more than calories in verses calories out. There are other factors that go into this problem. to a greater extent and more research is indicating that Americas obesity crisis cannot be blamed entirely on too much fast food and too little exer cise. genetic knowledge plays a factor into which people are becoming obese. There are natural and synthetic chemical substances known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (Deeds), or as searchers have begun to call them, obsesses.Obsesses are chemicals that disrupt the function of hormonal systems many researchers believe they lead to weight gain and, in turn, numerous diseases that curse the American populace. (Perrine & Warlock, 2010) Other hormone disorders come into effect such at thyroid, adrenal glands, pituitary glands, ovaries which can as well contribute to obesity. In many cases of weight loss management requires a fit of behavioral and medical intervention. This balance is created through the guidance of a physician.Another factor in the rise of obesity is parents of young children who have poor dating habits raise children who are obese. Todays children are the first generation of Americans projected to have a shorter life mates than their parents -? with one out of three at venture of developing pillowcase Two diabetes, a crippling disease once seen only in adults. (Stone, 2006) Parents instill healthy lifestyles in their children. They do this through family democracies, and beliefs and attitudes in eating and physical activity.The significant associations between household, parent, and child variables offer a coup doeil into the potential processes at work prior to a childs status as obese. For instance, measuring of general parenting and parent attitudes to-ward child eating and nutrition were meaningfully related to the kinds of foods available in the home and to childrens activities, both potential risk factors for childhood overweight, Gable & Lutz, (2000) Childrens roles in their own physical health and well-being cannot be discounted notwithstanding, it is the parent who instill these values into their children.B. Public Health The normal health model differs from the medical model not only in its emphasis on prevention but al so in its friendliness of a wider range of causative factors. (Adler Stewart, 2009) These factors focus is mainly on the food industry. Their believe system is the food industry exploits people by targeting commence income families and their environment. They do this through marketing, advertisements. Public health approaches in solving obesity does include health education, they approach the problem through legislative and regulatory means.Examples are nutrition standards for school lunch programs bans on sugar-sweetened beverages in schools hawking machines requirements for developers of residential subdivisions to include bicycle paths, sidewalks, and parks and zoning regulations for fast-food outlets. This group is using the moralities of equality of opportunity and equality under the law. Although obesity affects all demographics in the United States, some healthcare professional would argue obesity is target. racial and ethnic minority adults, and those with less education or who make less money continue to have the highest overall obesity rates (F as in, 2011) Published finding have reveal companies who garden truck products such as sodas, candies and alcoholic beverages target minorities verses the general audience. These advertisements are found on billboards in communities in predominantly African American and Hispanic. The advertisements are also seen in commercials and magazines that target African American and Hispanic audiences.The environment in which people live directly affects people food choices. Lewis and colleagues (2005) also determine substantially more point-of-sale advertising and promotion of unhealthful foods in restaurants in low-income African American and Latino communities than in more tight white communities in Los Angels County. (Yankee, Cole, Brown, Williams, Hillier, Kline, Ashes & Beckman, 2009) Opportunities for physical activity, in low income neighborhoods are really low.Parks and walk able areas are scarce. Perce ptions of resource quality, preventive, and cultural relevance also affect physical activity levels. Research as concluded safety and quality factors in traffic fatalities, crime rates and park size effect obesity rates because counter to predictions, subpopulations generally considered vulnerable to obesity (and environmental injustices more generally) are more likely to live in willable neighborhoods and have better walking access to neighborhood parks than other groups.However, crime is highest in willable neighborhoods with large Latino and African-American populations and parks are smaller in areas populated by Latino/as. Given the high prevalence of obesity and related diseases in lower income and minority populations the results signal that benefits of built environments may be offset by social characteristics Ill. Audiences The target audience for awareness of the obesity as a social problem targets every U. S. Citizen. Obesity is becoming a worldwide problem however the United States in the lead globally ranking the highest rates of obesity.Mainly the focuses is on physicians, nurses, dieticians/Darts, nutritionists, fitness professionals, health educators, public health professionals, social workers, psychologists, physical harpists, occupational therapists, teachers, administrators and school counselors. The other side tries to appeal to lawyers, food companies, and political representatives. These groups of people have the tools to promote change. IV. Power Relationships As the obesity epidemic continues to intensify, its becoming clear that theres more to obesity than lifestyle choices.Therefore, endocrinologists carefully examine the genetic and physiological causes and effects of obesity and develop treatment options that can produce concrete results. Endocrinologists are doctors that are facially trained to diagnose and treat diseases related to the body endocrine system which regulates appetite, metabolism (food burning and run through el imination), and growth through chemicals known as hormones (Combating obesity, 2012) The same lawyers who battle the bum makers are now fighting the food companies.Dry, William Jacobs says From the days of reefer madness, that old anti- drug movie, the word addiction has conjured images of out-of-control behavior. But today, cutting edge science is shedding new light on addiction and its connection to chemical changes in the brain. If those changes can lead to compulsive behavior, mom scientists wonder if suety foods and drugs Just might have more in common (Stone, 2006) spot most consumers would say what you eat is your choice. Its a matter of personal function what you eat, but several academics and lawyers are arguing youre far less free to choose whats on your plate than you realize.While each group is made up of professionals who are notable, it is matter of persuading the audience to which solution is correct. V. Conclusion Targeting obesity has restrain across the politi cal spectrum. In the US, discussions of the supposed obesity epidemic commonly take place within the context of a larger concussion, which assumes that the increase weight of the population is a sign of increasing moral laxness and that overweight and obesity are playing a significant role in driving up health care costs.This linkage is fascinating for those who are ideologically committed to a focus on individual responsibility, rather than on structural factors that continue to drive health care costs ever upward, and leave one out of every septet Americans without health insurance of any kind. Anxieties about increasing weight encounter with those on the left of the political spectrum as well, ho tend to depict the obesity epidemic as both a by-product and a symbolic representation of rampant consumer overcompensation and greedy corporations. Camps, Sashay, Reemerges, Oliver, Greaser, 2005) In this paper I have shown the construction of obesity as a social problem has been made through a series of steps used in the social construction of a social problem. Claims were made by those who feel obesity is problem of individual making bad lifestyle choices and those who feel is the food industry plays a huge role in why more people are obese today. Both groups validate obesity is an epidemic and therefore a social problem however these groups battle the way we are to combat this problem.