Obesity And The Mass Media Essay

7. What do you believe will be your strengths and challenges in working with diverse

Is obesity really a serious health concern or is the “epidemic” merely a result of highly fabricated, misleading ideas of politicians and the media? The article, Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic? By W. Wayt Gibbs featured in the May 23, 2005 edition of Scientific America, raises this question. Most health experts and average people believe that obesity is one of the most prevalent health concerns today, resulting in increased risk for other major health issues; such as; heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, and the chance for early loss of life. However, other researchers are suggesting that the consequences of being overweight are being blown out of proportion. Naturally, they do

After receiving my bachelor's degrees in Public Health and Foreign Language and International Economics, and masters degrees in Epidemiology and International Economics, I plan on serving a minimum of six months with Doctors Without Borders-- a health advocacy organization that deploys doctors to communities with active need. Not only is this how I plan to serve my global community directly, but I also plan on using this international service work to develop my career. After going on to receive a Ph.D. in Epidemiology, I plan on becoming an economic advisor, or occupying a related job in a healthcare agency so that I may lead an initiative in solving the economic woes of African countries to set them up for long-term

The first method the textbook brings up is surveys. The textbook describes this method as being a way to reach a larger number participants, and is used to see patterns and relationships among

It’s estimated that nearly 1/3 of people suffer from obesity in North America. Rather than being a part of the solution, the media has a portrayal of what one should and should not look like, what is beautiful and what is not, typically possessing unrealistic standards and showing those that are overweight, as weak-willed individuals, who generally are blue collared individuals. This paper shall discuss obese individuals and how they are portrayed on television or on online streaming programming. Secondly, this paper shall discuss why this group has such a negative portrayal. Third, this paper will discuss what social pressures and production forces shape these portrayals. Finally, this paper will incorporate a media theory and explain what effects it has on the audiences and how obese individuals are typically treated in society.

The sociological aspect of obesity shown through the impact of families, the government and the economy. The rapidly growing, fast-paced, technological society creates an epidemic of sorts. Families pursue the use of technology, restaurants and fast-paced eating as well as single parenting and parental denial. The government sets a significant health care cost to obesity, which prevents a solution and increases risks. A non-stable economy brings about a society filled with unemployment or multiple jobs as well as both parents working to stay above absolute or relative poverty leading to distractions from a healthy lifestyle. Obesity is a concern, not just for an individual but also for

I enjoy working with groups, families and one on one. My future is very clear to me working in a school environment, treatment centre, advocating for accessibility, human rights, and inclusion for everyone all of these pieces I would be thrilled for these to be part of my job. Also, I envision animals be incorporated in my practice in some way. My primary focus is and always will be the individuals that I support every skill and talent for me has always come from my heart. That’s how I need to work as a professional.

Much has been written to explain the medical aspect of obesity but little attention has been paid to understanding the sociological aspect of the epidemic. This research attempts to understand the sociological aspect of obesity by examining the socio-cultural, gender, and psycho-social effects and includes the different perceptions of the epidemic as well as what is deemed acceptable in the society we live in.

Obesity rates are soaring throughout North America (What Is Obesity?, 2013). With obesity reaching almost epidemic proportions in the United States, and the threat of a global epidemic, we must watch this alarming increase carefully ( Health Risks of Obesity, 2013). Obesity is defined as: "…an excess of adipose tissue…" (A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014). The two most common measures of obesity are Body Mass Index (BMI is a ratio of weight to height) and relative weight index, such as percent desirable weight (Body Mass Index , 2013). BMI is the most frequently used measure of obesity as it has a strong correlation with more direct measures of adiposity, such as underwater weighing (A Report of the Surgeon General, 2013). Some

There are a number of methods of collecting data, some of them are – questionnaire, surveys, checklists, interviews, observations, focus group etc (Cordray, 1986; Einhorn and Hogarth, 1986).

2) What methodological tool(s) has your organization relied upon investigate that question and identify answers?

3. What do you expect will be your most lasting contribution to the field of psychology?

In modern times, the alarming and ever-increasing rate of chronic diseases, in particular Obesity, has heightened our awareness concerning the profound changes in human diets and lifestyles habits. Such changes date back to prehistoric times before agriculture and animal husbandry was introduced; to date (i.e. present time). When considering the evolutionary time scale, it can be said that changes in diet and lifestyles have occurred so drastically and rapidly, that humans were not able to properly adjust. Consequently, changes in the nutritional, cultural and activity patterns among contemporary Western populations, has led to the emergence of many diseases.

Locate two research studies in your discipline or your field of study—one study must use a qualitative method and one study must use a quantitative method. Each study must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Perform the following with each study:

According to the National Eating Disorder Association the media has a major influence on what a woman’s body should look like. Every print and television advertisement suggests that the ideal body is extremely thin. However, most women cannot achieve having a super-thin body that the media favors. The resulting failure leads to negative feelings about one’s self and can begin a downward spiral toward an eating disorder (National Eating Disorders Association).