The psychological and cultural aspects of obesity in children - Essay Example

Word Count 1190 and Index Number March 30, 2007 The psychological and cultural aspects of obesity in children Obesity has become a popular, yet debatable subject in the past century. Over 22% of the U.S. adult population is obese based on body mass index. Eighty percent of these obese adults have one or more chronic diseases that greatly affect their lives. Obesity is a perilous illness that many Americans possess and the disadvantages are excessive. Such chronic diseases as diabetes and hypertension are more common for the adults, but recently their rate has increased among the youth. The causes of obesity in youth are poor dietary habits and inactivity - youth of today is the most inactive youth in the history. Obesity in children leads to the adult obesity. Obese children suffer from the psychological problems, such as social exclusion, poor self-esteem and inability to participate in the activities, such as sports. Obese children, whose number is increasing in American society, experience difficulties with relating themselves to the family members and peers. Children with extra weight are at risk of having regular depressions. Although risk factors for depression are not well known and can be very diverse, it has been studies that depression among children is often rooted in the body dissatisfaction. Overweight children tend to have few friends. "Mapping childhood social networks demonstrates that normal-weight children have more social relationships with a central network of children, whole overweight children have more peripheral and isolated relationships in the network" (Daniels 2006). Another important factor to consider is that both obese adults and obese children have lower estimation of themselves and quality of life in general compared to the individuals with normal weight. In fact, the health-related quality of life for obese children is similar to the children diagnosed with cancer. Obesity increases such risk factors as heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The type 2 diabetes which was previously considered the adult disease has dramatically increased in over-weighted children (Smith 1999). Obesity in linked to many diseases which are followed from the childhood to adulthood and have impact on the long-term health. The notion that obese children are very likely to become obese adults is one of the biggest concerns. Parental obesity doubles the risk for obese children. The modern society admires the slimness and as the result, the children with extra weight are treated differently. They feel isolated and generate the identity problems. To understand the full scope of obesity impact on the life of American teens, it is vital to look at the cultural aspects of the nation. In particular, United States are often referred to as the country of fast food industry. Consequently, consumption of the fast-food meals by children leads to the higher energy intake with low nutrition value. Thus, children who often eat at fast food gain more calories they need and consume more. Moreover, sweet beverages such as candy bars and soft drinks contribute significantly to the obesity epidemics. Similar to fast food, sweet beverages give children more energy than they need (Anderson 2006). Even though the recent legislation has removed machines with snacks and soft drinks out of schools, it does not eliminate the possibility of unhealthy consumption at home. Ironically, soft drinks and fast food industries were the cultural symbol of American nation and as the obesity in children indicates, have caused numerous psychological and health problems. Even though American society is proud to claim that their children are involved into sports more than any other nation, the obese children are not able to be active. Overweight is supported by the lack of physical activity in the combination with genetic and lifestyle habits. Almost half of all children watch television three to five hours per day and those who watch TV longer have even higher incidents of obesity. Computer and video games also contribute to the obesity problem. Moreover, obese children are not able to be involved into sports activities to the extent they should. The investigation by Goold, Mudry, and Klaczynski has proved that there is the relationship among the causal attributions, cultural and personal beliefs about thinness and obesity, attitudes towards and stereotypes of obese people, and self-esteem (2004). In summary, the self-esteem and negative attitude toward obese are highly correlated; the "relationship between belief that one's weight in controllable and self-esteem was mediated by the extent to which the thin ideal has been internalized"; gender and body mass were found to be associated with self-esteem. In particular, women more likely than men to believe that they did not have control over their weight and suffered more from being obese. One of the most important elements of American culture is that view that whether academic, economic or social accomplishments are the outcomes of personal motivation to be successful. Obese children, growing up into obese adults, seem not to lack this motivation, but they are constrained from reaching this success by the numerous factors related to their over-weight. It should be expected that obesity should be the problem of East European nations - after the world wars, being fat was considered normal because during the wartime people were suffering from hunger. However, obesity is not the problem of those nations to the same extent it is in United States. From the other side, the obesity in children in United States can be attributed to the wealth of food. Children are allowed to eat whatever they want and most of them are not aware of the negative outcomes. This is the culture of American nation and it does cause problems for young generations. Some of the researchers believe that increased activity and dieting will not save the American nation from obesity in children. Cohen and Farley summarized the behavioral-modification programs designed to treat obesity and noted that despite of all efforts of parents and government, obesity is too much deeply rooted in the American culture (2001). Some of the children who are obese have as much as 69 pounds overweight as early as at the age of five! According to the statistics, today more than 5.4 million overweight American children and another 7 million are at risk of joining this group (Cohen and Farley 2001). Everything the medical community has prescribed to fight obesity has failed and even the best programs for kids do little in the long term. Even though not much has to be done - eating less and exercising more - these two concepts are not a part of American culture. Americans prefer to choose the night at a burger joint with the kids over the trip to the gym. Obesity in children has the potential to become the part of the American culture as well. In conclusion, obesity in children is the problem and does cause numerous problems to children as well as to society in general. Overweight children are at risk of different weight-related diseases, they feel isolated and dissatisfied with their body image, they cannot find friends and get involved into sports activates. If the obesity in children is not urgently treated, there is the chance that in the nearest future the American society will become entirely obese and junk food, soft drinks and absence of exercise will become the key elements of American culture. References Anderson, P., Butcher, K. (2006). Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes. The Future of Children, 16 (1), 19+. Cohen, D., & Farley, T. (2001). Fixing a Fat Nation: Why Diets and Gyms Won't Save the Obesity Epidemic. Washington Monthly, 33 (12), 23+. Daniels, S. (2006). The Consequences of Childhood Overweight and Obesity. The Future of Children, 16 (1), 47+. Goold, K., Klaczynski, P., & Mudry, J. (2004). Culture, Obesity Stereotypes, Self-Esteem, and the "Thin Ideal": A Social Identity Perspective. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33 (4), 307+. Smith, C. (1999). Understanding Childhood Obesity. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. Read More