Wholeness & Obesity Epidemic

Wholeness & Obesity Epidemic

It is stated according to Lingxin Hao (2009), “The average immigrant is slimmer than the average native-born American, and stays that way for some 10 years after coming to the United States.”  (Hao, 2009).   With that thought in mind, obesity is becoming a problem in the United States.   The aggressive advertising of the fast-food giants such as “McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s,  and Arby’s, keep individual's mouth-watering to eat their popular food items.   It is also a double standard when most of the health food specialty stores are very expensive compared to an Mc Double at McDonald’s.   Some have noticed that the wholeness of consuming these foods have a particular effect on the human body.   With the current state of the economy, many individuals are thinking about how they can save money as opposed to what is truly good for you.   Obesity has an acronym for how it is truly categorized into individuals. 
“O”=oblique (when you think of the term oblique you think of either perpendicular or parallel).

“B”=Big (large or great in dimensions, bulk, or extent).

“E”=Enormous (Marked by extraordinary great size, number, or degree).

“S”=Super Size (This term is often used in Mc Donald’s, which means the highest size that you can obtain a French fry or drink).

“I”=Immense (Marked by greatness in size or degree).

“T”=Too much (this term meaning that when an individual is obese, they have too much fat or a high Body Mass Index).

“Y”= yonder (This term means at or in that indicated more or less distant place usually in sight. When something is over yonder it is distant).

Furthermore, these types personify how obesity is often analyzed in layman’s terms. Negative attitudes towards obesity are more ominous in North American Society.  Popular “fat jokes” are in many feature films or television shows.  Overweight actresses are being hired only for fat roles, and to be the butt of every joke.  According to Heuer & Puhl (2010), “Numerous studies have documented harmful weight-based stereotypes that say that overweight and obese individuals are lazy, weak-willed, unsuccessful, unintelligent, lack self-discipline, have poor willpower, and are noncompliant with weight loss treatment. (Huer & Puhl, 2010). This leaves room for discrimination, stigma, and prejudice amongst obese persons.  These prejudices of obese persons can be found in healthcare facilities, the workplace, educational institutions, mass media, and private relationships.  However, obesity is a serious medical condition that affects 76% of the United States population.   Parents and children should be educated on how important it is to eat healthier and not always run too fast food restaurants.  Granted, there’s nothing wrong with having a burger or two, but moderation is the key. 

In summary, healthier eating starts at home and what we consume is very important.  Obesity is not a laughing matter, but should be taken with the utmost consideration of severity.  As aforementioned, 76 % of Americans are affected by obesity, and the figures will continue to get higher if alternatives to counteract it are not implemented.  In addition, I think the marketers of these fast food chains should provide better incentives on healthier eating.  Once that happens, maybe we can reiterate how important eating healthy and exercise really is to today’s youth.

References

Anonymous. Immigrating to Obesity. The Wilson Quarterly. Washington: Autumn 2009. Vol. 33, Iss. 4; p. 72 (1 page).

Puhl, R.M. & Heuer, C.A. Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health. American Journal of Public Health. Washington: Jun 2010. Vol. 100, Iss. 6; p. 1019 (10 pages).

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010). Big.  Retrieved June 17, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010). Enormous. Retrieved June 17, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enormous

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010).  Oblique. (2010). Retrieved June 17, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oblique

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010).  Yonder. Retrieved June 17, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yonder