Representations and Understandings of Obesity by Nicolette Andronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5 SOCS235 Assignment 2: Nicolette Andronis S00269650 en-us 2021-05-12 23:26:16 UTC 2024-11-12 04:45:05 UTC hello@padlet.com What is obesity? nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519467383 Obesity is described as "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health" (WHO, n.d.). A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese (WHO, n.d.).]]> 2021-05-12 23:29:06 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519467383 Impacts on economy and health care systems nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519519119 The rising rates of obesity have costly impacts for individuals, the economy and health care systems. This includes "higher health-care costs, and higher demand on health-care services (health professionals and pharmaceuticals)" (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017).]]> 2021-05-12 23:57:46 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519519119 Medicalisation of obesity nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519519548
  • Focuses on creating interventions to 'fix' the cause of obesity, with a focus on surgical, pharmacological and lifestyle interventions (Germov, 2018).  
  • Categorises individuals as being 'sick' and in need of treatment, regardless of how risky their weight may be (Medley-Rath, 2017). This encourages people to be a 'victim' and non-medical and traditional treatments of weight loss may become devalued 
  • Medical professionals attribute to obesity to causes with individual control, such as dietary choices, exercise, or willpower, which supports the stigma that those who suffer from obesity lack willingness to change their lifestyle habits. However, in reality, obesity is a 'multifactorial disease' that is caused by a range of "biological, genetic, social, environmental and behavioural determinants" (Lee et al, 2019).
    • ]]>     2021-05-12 23:58:00 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519519548     Representation in the media nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519520384
  • The media shows a victim-blaming perspective that does little to address the roots of obesity, creating guilt and placing blame on individuals 
  • Visual images and verbal descriptions dwell on fatness, believing shame will motivate individuals to lose weight. However, this stigma creates negative behaviours (binge eating, isolation, avoidance of help etc)
    • ]]>     2021-05-12 23:58:23 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519520384     TV production nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519520660
  • Obese characters are stereotypes as being lazy, clumsy, unattractive and unpopular
  • The economy has used the medicalisation of obesity for profit through TV shows 'The Biggest Loser' and 'Extreme Weight Loss'. Humour and entertainment is derived from mocking and watching individuals challenge themsleves to lose weight through self-discipline (Zimdars, 2015),
    • Figure 1. Biggest Loser (Getty Images, n.d.).
    ]]>     2021-05-12 23:58:31 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519520660     Facts vs Public myths nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519521250 Facts:
    • Diet can effectively reduce weight, but sustaining a long-term diet is not sustainable
    • Regardless of body weight, an increased level of exercise increases overall health
      Some pharmaceutical agents can help patients achieve clinically meaningful weight loss if they are continually used
    Public myths:
    • Individuals with obesity are less active than 'healthy weight individuals' (Chaput et al, 2014).
    • Everyone can lose weight with willpower
    • Individuals with obesity are lazy 
    ]]>     2021-05-12 23:58:50 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519521250     References: nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519779497 2021-05-13 01:42:03 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519779497 Social factors influencing obesity nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519861034 Income:
    • Affordability of a healthy diet and access to physical activity (Germov, 2018). 
    • Those from low socioeconomic backgrounds can have lower levels of physical activity and may be nutritionally disadvantaged due to poor resources, transportation and storage issues (Germov, 2018).
    Education:
    • Lack of education can be associated with lack of understanding of healthy lifestyle choices and decreased self-control (WHO, 2014).
    Area of residence:
    • Access to food and places to participate in physical activity (WHO, 2014).
    Home and family environment:
    • Neighbourhoods can have a dense supply of fast foods, less access to fresh fruit and vegetables 
    • Low socio-economic groups can experience chaotic living conditions, with inadequate cooking facilities (WHO, 2014).
    ]]>     2021-05-13 02:15:04 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519861034     WEIGHT BIAS nicoletteandronis https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519990347 2021-05-13 03:12:25 UTC https://padlet.com/nicoletteandronis/dn4q12qa177geye5/wish/1519990347