Way Beyond Weight Documentary Analysis

Obesity, a disorder characterized by having excessive fat, can have an effect on factors ranging from health to relationships and contributes to the leading causes of mortality in the United States. Obesity rates continue to rise as the years go by, and public health campaigns fail to address the main causes of obesity when attempting to prevent it, which is one of their main problems. According to the American Heart Association, “nearly 78 million adults and 13 million children in the United States have to deal with this disorder each day” (Understanding). Obesity can be caused by behavioral and hereditary components. Several genes work to contribute to increased hunger and food intake, as well as the decisions people make when consuming food. Society is one factor that feeds into the …show more content…
Most people undergo hardships from obesity because of their choices and the way others support those decisions. Way Beyond Weight, a documentary by Estela Renner, portrays the burdens of obesity by consulting with the parents of an obese child, Yan. When he does not get the junk food that he wants, Yan throws a fit. The documentary repeatedly displays the whining that Yan’s parents have to endure from him each day. His parents eventually give in, despite his heart condition, and give him the high caloric foods that he wants but does not need (Renner). Being only seven years old, Yan does not understand the consequences of obesity, but his parents do. By allowing him to eat anything, they give Yan a sense of power, which can be dangerous for his health. At any age, this negative support can be detrimental to mental and physical well-being. The individual may feel as if he or she is making the right decisions when the people around do not speak up. Thus, the support system of an individual suffering from obesity plays an important role in their