Introduction:
A common American motto is that “bigger is better” when it comes to homes, cars, amusement parks and most importantly food and portions. This mindset played a huge role in what many would say is recent obesity epidemic that has not only swept our nation but also a large part of the world. Currently, more than one third of American adults are obese and these figures continue to rise as we continue to live an overindulgent and sedentary lifestyle (“Adult Obesity Facts,” 2015). This is an immense social issue that is significant to the American health care system: our cost of healthcare per capita is double that of most developed European countries (Kane, 2012). Exploring obesity from an economic perspective, there are increased …show more content…
These prices continue to increase with the increasing medical needs of the obese population and take up more of the health care budget. We need to lower the obesity rates in order to allow our country to flourish and start lowering the cost of healthcare in general through policy reform. Obesity is a pressing issue, and it can be addressed with policy implementation and educational programs for youth in this country. Obesity has a stigma associated with it that has been supported by social and legal institutions and this has helped exacerbate the problem of obesity that has increased health problems and thus is the reason for higher healthcare costs at an individual and at a societal level. This paper will explore the social, psychological, health and economic implications brought about by obesity that is linked to negative impacts in form of a crisis and rising costs of health care. To address these issues I propose that the best form is to continue and strengthen educational policies and programs for youth and their families in order to inform them and in turn reduce obesity rates in this country. More importantly, because youth education is the best solution because the investment assures a long term impact …show more content…
Anti-fat prejudice can best be described as “a negative attitude toward (dislike of), belief about (stereotype), or behavior against (discrimination) people perceived as being fat” (McHugh & Kasarda, 2012). As explained previously, this is common and is one of the main reasons why people who are obese suffer from social and institutional discrimination like through unemployment or being ostracized by society because being fat is seen as dangerous, unhealthy and disfiguring” (McHugh & Kasardo, 2012). By having huge subsets of the population view the individual that suffers from obesity in such a negative light, it has psychological implications by affecting their mental health and self esteem. In the Feminist Forum journal, authors Maureen McHugh and Ashley Kasardo (2012) explain how women are divided by fat oppression which does not allow them to feed and nurture themselves or others. Women are very communal and look after one another, but being stigmatized by society divides them and does not allow for them to receive the support that they need(McHugh & Kasarda, 2012). Women who have higher rates of obesity are at more of a risk of “depressive episodes, as well as increased suicidal ideation and attempt” (McHugh & Kasarda, 2012). This is a reflection of the isolation caused by the
A common American motto is that “bigger is better” when it comes to homes, cars, amusement parks and most importantly food and portions. This mindset played a huge role in what many would say is recent obesity epidemic that has not only swept our nation but also a large part of the world. Currently, more than one third of American adults are obese and these figures continue to rise as we continue to live an overindulgent and sedentary lifestyle (“Adult Obesity Facts,” 2015). This is an immense social issue that is significant to the American health care system: our cost of healthcare per capita is double that of most developed European countries (Kane, 2012). Exploring obesity from an economic perspective, there are increased …show more content…
These prices continue to increase with the increasing medical needs of the obese population and take up more of the health care budget. We need to lower the obesity rates in order to allow our country to flourish and start lowering the cost of healthcare in general through policy reform. Obesity is a pressing issue, and it can be addressed with policy implementation and educational programs for youth in this country. Obesity has a stigma associated with it that has been supported by social and legal institutions and this has helped exacerbate the problem of obesity that has increased health problems and thus is the reason for higher healthcare costs at an individual and at a societal level. This paper will explore the social, psychological, health and economic implications brought about by obesity that is linked to negative impacts in form of a crisis and rising costs of health care. To address these issues I propose that the best form is to continue and strengthen educational policies and programs for youth and their families in order to inform them and in turn reduce obesity rates in this country. More importantly, because youth education is the best solution because the investment assures a long term impact …show more content…
Anti-fat prejudice can best be described as “a negative attitude toward (dislike of), belief about (stereotype), or behavior against (discrimination) people perceived as being fat” (McHugh & Kasarda, 2012). As explained previously, this is common and is one of the main reasons why people who are obese suffer from social and institutional discrimination like through unemployment or being ostracized by society because being fat is seen as dangerous, unhealthy and disfiguring” (McHugh & Kasardo, 2012). By having huge subsets of the population view the individual that suffers from obesity in such a negative light, it has psychological implications by affecting their mental health and self esteem. In the Feminist Forum journal, authors Maureen McHugh and Ashley Kasardo (2012) explain how women are divided by fat oppression which does not allow them to feed and nurture themselves or others. Women are very communal and look after one another, but being stigmatized by society divides them and does not allow for them to receive the support that they need(McHugh & Kasarda, 2012). Women who have higher rates of obesity are at more of a risk of “depressive episodes, as well as increased suicidal ideation and attempt” (McHugh & Kasarda, 2012). This is a reflection of the isolation caused by the