Obese People Research Paper

“America’s War on the Overweight” by Kate Dailey and Abby Ellin talks about the issues facing obese and overweight individuals. There have been countless examples of hate towards obese/overweight individuals in America which the article describes in detail. For example, when Regina M. Benjamin was nominated for a MacArthur and got criticism for her weight publicly. Some of the individuals who were criticized are not even overweight, but just normal sized with a bit of belly fat. So why is there animosity towards obese individuals? The article states it is due to self-loathing of a nation which prides itself in Puritanical beliefs. As well as psychological phenomenon known as the fundamental attribution error which makes you underestimate others

In this chapter, Lupton examines how overweight people experience life in society and how negative views of being overweight affect said people. She concludes that overweight people face a plethora of challenges in everyday life for a multitude of reasons (Lupton, 2013, p. 67-68). Overweight people experience discrimination on multiple levels, which can lead to negative health outcomes. This leads to the question, are fat people sick because they are fat, or because social factors surrounding and influencing their fatness

Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and, heart disease are common physical ailments. In addition, obesity can cause a number of psychological issues such as low self-esteem, body dimorphic disorder, and social stigmatization (Puhl and Brownell, 2006). Stigmatization and stereotypes based on weight are prevalent across many environments. Some of the stereotypes include thinking that the obese individual is lazy or lacks self-control. Puhl and Brownell (2006) investigated the stigma of being overweight and the coping mechanisms. Surprisingly, one of the outcomes of their research indicates that family members are often a source of stigma. Those who are overweight face discrimination and stigma not only when out in the community, but also have to deal with the stigma at home.

Without a question, it is not fair that overweight people go through their entire lives being criticized and taunted for their weight. Worley explains how rude comments discourage fat people from exercising because they are embarrassed and “they don’t have the support they need to continue” (494). It is the stares and snide remarks that give overweight people low self-esteem. Worley justly states that “you’re entitled to the space you take up” (496). No person should feel like they need to hide away from the world.

The clinicians in the document say that if obese were replaced with racial or gender markers more people would speak out about the unfair treatment. Most of the outward prejudices of people living with obesity are from assumptions, obese people are assumed to be lazy, no self-control, and weak. People assume that obese people simply cannot stop eating. Biases and stigma come from all areas, family and friends, strangers, and in the workplace. Some interviewees in the documentary expressed feelings of not having a safe place.

Obese African American women were discriminated by society in the workplace. Being obese in society is seen as a form of laziness, self-disrespect, and poor self-control. Rothblum, Miller, and Garbutt (1988) found that overweight job applicants were evaluated more negatively than average weight applicants on issues such as their supervisory potential, self-discipline, and personal hygiene (Morrison & O'Connor, 1999). Qualifications for employment should never be based on an individual's weight. For example, Larkin and Pines

The pressure to lose weight in today’s society inhibits the personality and health of overweight people while essentially increasing the weight of the people who experience these pressures (Worley 163-167). So reasons Mary Ray Worley in her article, “Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance.” Worley uses her personal experience as well as a small number of facts to dispute the reason overweight people struggle as they attempt to contribute to society (163-167). In the beginning of her article she references an association of which she is a member, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, to convey the possibilities to advance society when judgement based on size is abandoned (163-164). The association holds a conference every year, and Worley continually refers to the atmosphere at the convention as “another planet,” suggesting that the scarcity of judgment during the convention differed significantly from her everyday experiences (163-164, 167). Applying her encounters to all people of her weight category, she declares that even doctors blame the majority of sicknesses on weight (165). She also proclaims that people should not diet and exercise in order to lose weight, as this triggers loss of motivation without results, but to improve their attitude and mood (166). Referencing Dr. Diane Budd from the convention, she states that attempts to lose weight cause “lasting harmful effects on one’s appetite, metabolism, and self-esteem” (164). While Worley’s

The social impact of obesity: although overlaps the concept of mental health, it includes the way society treats obese people and the difficulties they face because of it

If people are prejudged by weight it could discourage overweight and obese from participating in certain activities. An example of this is workplace discrimination. Rebecca Puhl who researches at the Rudd Center for Food Policy under Yale psychologist Kelley Brownell reports “overweight people are twenty six more times likely to report discrimination than their

Furthermore, these individuals subside the average person due to their obesity; a disease that affects 70% of American adults. Consequently, this disease causes an increasing amount of heart diseases, strokes, high blood pressure, and diabetes in our current community. It is agreed upon our society that these individuals who suffer of obesity have been looked down upon and are put at risk of discrimination regardless of how hard we try to end it. To make the problem worse than it already

The pressure to lose weight in today’s society inhibits the personality and health of overweight people while essentially increasing the weight of the people who experience these pressures (Worley 163-167). So reasons Mary Ray Worley in her article, “Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance.” Worley uses her personal experience as well as a small number of facts to dispute why overweight people struggle as they attempt to contribute to society (163-167). In the beginning of her article she references an association of which she is a member, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, to convey the possibilities to advance society when judgement based on size is abandoned (163-164). The association holds a conference every year, and Worley continually refers to the atmosphere at the convention as “another planet,” suggesting that the scarcity of judgment during the convention differed significantly from her everyday experiences (163-164, 167). Applying her encounters to all people of her weight category, she declares that even doctors blame the majority of sicknesses on weight (165). She also proclaims that people should not diet and exercise in order to lose weight, as this triggers loss of motivation without results, but to improve their attitude and mood (166). Referencing Dr. Diane Budd from the convention, she states that attempts to lose weight cause “lasting harmful effects on one’s appetite, metabolism, and self-esteem” (164). While Worley’s unjustifiable

Obesity is becoming more and more prominent in our country. In today’s society it is not rare to see someone who is obese, it is America’s epidemic. The pressure to be thin is at its highest and many people across America are found in a battle against their own body. Shaming people for being obese is growing in our country. Media and doctors are telling us that being fat is not tolerable.

In the American culture, obesity is seen as a bodily abnormality and deviance that should be corrected. Obesity has indeed become one of the most stigmatizing bodily characteristics in our culture (Brink, 1994). In the Western culture, thinness does not just mean the size of the

Obesity has been a subject of discussion and disgust since the time when women were objectified into trophies. The pressure rising with the class and status. Even after the dawn of independence broke on the female creed in the early nineteenth century the issue persists. The obese people continue to raise eyebrows and hushed whispers even today as they walk down the streets, malls and other public places. The modernization and feminist movements haven’t been able to eradicate the unasked sympathies, suggestions and abuse on the obese women. The most serious issue is that a woman is not even allowed to choose for herself a yardstick that would label her skinny or fat. Nothing new about not giving a choice but it makes the stigma all the more

Life deals us with different obstacles we must overcome. Some are psychological, some are physical, the worse are the ones that spiral out of control. The article focuses on the people that suffer from obesity. Written by Gina Kolata for the New York Times, titled Why Do Obese Patients Get Worse Care? Many Doctors Don’t See Past the Fat. I will analyze Human behavior theories and perspective, and what can be done to prevent such stigma towards the obese.