In the early 1960s, American’s were not concerned by the amount of emphasis that was placed on their eating habits. But, in the ensuing years medical researchers found that the lack of concern correlated with health issues and in turn affects the weight of a number of persons in the United States. Some of the health issues included diseases that stemmed from poor health conditions associated with over eating. High blood pressure, respiratory failure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes are some of the more popular health challenges that arise from poor eating habits. There is a growing increase in the negative effects of consuming frozen and fast foods meals, but what most persons are unaware of the added sugars and preservatives that are unhealthy for the body.
Fast food organizations provide many persons with the opportunity to maintain the emerging lifestyle as parents have become more engrossed with providing for the economic needs of their families and less time with preparing meals. With the changes in the living and working standards in the society, more persons are becoming obese because parents find it more challenging to balance their jobs and taking care of the health needs of their families. The current researches reiterate this view as seventy – five percent of the American population overweight or obese and cause a serious health problem for a number of person in this country (Tompson 1). The statistics further reveals that “overweight and obesity rank second only to cancer” (Tompson 1) and this makes the problem of obesity quite serious.
The harsh reality is that obesity is quite common in the United States as the increase in the number of fast food chains allow and easier lifestyle for many persons. In addition, persons may find that eating at fast food restaurants is less expensive than preparing healthy meals for the family. Secondly, the improvements in technology also contribute to the unhealthy eating habits of persons in the society largely because technological devices make it easier for families to prepare microwave meals instead of home prepared meals. These factors contribute largely to the increase in the number of obesity cases in the country despite the positive outcomes of an improvement economic status and an improved technological advanced society.
The changes in the society have allowed families to move away from the values of the family and the amount of time persons spend with the family. The roles of women as the primary caregiver is changing rapidly as more women are entering the workforce. As a result, children are now no longer appreciative of the value of a healthy meal because they have become so accustomed to eating microwave dinners and fast food that they cannot see the dangers behind the challenges of this lifestyle. Ross Hammond and Ruth Levine reveal that the obesity is “a major global epidemic” (Hammond & Levine, 285) and this global epidemic has resulted from the changes in the eating patterns of persons in the society.
Obesity has medical challenges for persons which often stem from the psychological effect of being obese. Arguably, psychological issues only foreshadow the development of obesity, and can also follow ongoing struggles to control the weight. The society as a whole looks at obese persons as people who are “weak-willed” and “unmotivated” (Collins & Bentz 6). As a result, obese persons internalize these beliefs and “internalize them, putting themselves at risk for disorders of mood, anxiety, and substance abuse” (Collins & Bentz 6). Low self-esteem leaves persons with psychological problems that force these persons to engage in binge eating and increase the likelihood of obesity. Clearly, the psychological aspects of obesity are integral to understanding the increase in obesity and researchers have concluded that psychological assessments and interventions have are an integral part of a multidisciplinary approach to treating obesity.
Persons who suffer from psychological disorders, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders may find it even more difficult to control food consumption and maintaining a healthy weight. For many persons, food serves as the common coping mechanism for problems with weight and also with emotional challenges. Current researches on obesity reveal that obese persons are susceptible to a perpetual cycle of mood disturbance, overeating, and weight gain. A number of persons who are emotionally distressed may turn to food as a coping mechanism and this comfort eating generally leads to temporary decrease in the mood, but an increase in weight. The weight gain compounds the emotional distress and person become even more depressed. Additionally, the increase in weight will continue as most persons do not engage in physical activities that will allow for a decrease in the additional weight.
The problem of obesity is common in the United States and more persons have resorted to consuming large portions of unhealthy foods in an effort to alter their psychological state of mind. The increase in the cases of depression and anxiety allows for persons to engage in mindless eating, frequent consumption of high calorie snacks, and night eating. These factors contribute to the theory of binge eating or recurrent episodes of eating during a discreet period of time. People view obesity and obese persons in a negative way and there is the common belief that obese person are unmotivated. This perception leads to discomfort for the obese persons and thus continue the cycle of obesity.
In concluding, obesity is a problem in the United States and other countries around the world. The changes in the family structure, the emergence of the “new” women as a working – class parent and the psychological struggles that persons contend with are common factors that leads to obesity in children and adults. Obese persons are aware of the health challenges that are associated with obesity, but these persons often find it difficult to find or maintain the inner motivation that is necessary for a change in their obese status. As a result, the lack of motivation and the psychological problems that arise from the lack of motivation leads person to continue to engage in binge eating and feelings of self-pity. With the problems present in the lives of these persons, there is the need for more persons to make positive contributions to helping obese persons to deal with the emotional ad social factors that lead to obesity.
References
Collins, J. C., & Bentz, J. E., Ph.D. Behavioral and Psychological Factors in Obesity (2009) J
Hammond, Ross A. & Levine, Ruth, The Economic Impact of Obesity in the United States
(2010), Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy. Review pp.285 – 296, Web 24 Feb 2016 <www.brooking.edu>
Tompson, T Obesity in the United States: Public Perceptions (2013) Research Highlights, The
Associated Press and NORC, pp 1- 8 Web 23 Feb 2016 < http://www.apnorc.org/pdfs/obesity/ap-norc-obesity-research-highlights.pdf>
