In the following pages, I will be discussing the Australian social problem of childhood obesity, what it is and whom it affects. I will be looking at this problem from both a Functionalist and Marxist stance, taking into account the social, political and economic viewpoints of this social issue. I will also look at two different ideas to help combat childhood obesity.
Individuals that are obese, have an excessive amount of body fat (Germov, 2014, p. 214). At present, the assessment tool most used to define obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI). A person’s BMI is calculated by dividing their weight by double their height (Germov, 2014, p. 214). For children (ages two to seventeen), age and sex are also a factor, growth charts such as those …show more content…
If there is no significant action taken regarding childhood obesity or obesity in general, it is estimated, that the costs projected onto the Australian people will amount to eighty seven point seven billion dollars over the next ten years (van Smeerdijk, Jovic, Hutchins, Petre, & Lee, 2015, p. v).
While statistics show a very real link between obesity and health issues, even mortality and morbidity (Department of Health, 2009, paras 13–15) the social construction of obesity should be examined. Obesity and the body mass index cut-offs are socially constructed and change throughout time and cultures (Germov, 2014, p. 215). Where once being overweight was a sign of affluence, Anglo western society now deems being overweight a disease of the lower classes (Germov, 2014, pp. 216–217; Holmes et al., 2015, p. 167).
Marxism is a theory concerned with the power play between the social classes in society and trying to even out this balance of power. Proponents of Marxism believe that the government and other higher levels of society should be more accountable to the working class people, who in reality keep the world’s wheels turning. Marxism is about empowering the disadvantaged members of society to fight inequality (Kenny, 2006, pp.
Individuals that are obese, have an excessive amount of body fat (Germov, 2014, p. 214). At present, the assessment tool most used to define obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI). A person’s BMI is calculated by dividing their weight by double their height (Germov, 2014, p. 214). For children (ages two to seventeen), age and sex are also a factor, growth charts such as those …show more content…
If there is no significant action taken regarding childhood obesity or obesity in general, it is estimated, that the costs projected onto the Australian people will amount to eighty seven point seven billion dollars over the next ten years (van Smeerdijk, Jovic, Hutchins, Petre, & Lee, 2015, p. v).
While statistics show a very real link between obesity and health issues, even mortality and morbidity (Department of Health, 2009, paras 13–15) the social construction of obesity should be examined. Obesity and the body mass index cut-offs are socially constructed and change throughout time and cultures (Germov, 2014, p. 215). Where once being overweight was a sign of affluence, Anglo western society now deems being overweight a disease of the lower classes (Germov, 2014, pp. 216–217; Holmes et al., 2015, p. 167).
Marxism is a theory concerned with the power play between the social classes in society and trying to even out this balance of power. Proponents of Marxism believe that the government and other higher levels of society should be more accountable to the working class people, who in reality keep the world’s wheels turning. Marxism is about empowering the disadvantaged members of society to fight inequality (Kenny, 2006, pp.