Nathalie Pena-Trujillo
Cross-Cultural Perceptions
Body image, stereotypical attractiveness and thoughts of obesity vary according to each culture. Some cultures have placed a high values on big bodies while others have placed a high value on thin, small bodies. Important studies have shown that what people think about obesity is relative to each culture. As a result, the idea of fatness as unattractive is far from a universal idea.
Perceptions of Body Size in the Pacific Islanders.
This study gives information on the accuracy of body size judgments in Samoans in two countries. The key here is that they want to probe if the influence of media in people’s lives can also influence people’s idea of body sizing as well. When talking about the media some people will say that the media, which is controlled by wealthy and healthy people, creates false consciousness in those from lower classes. But in this study, Samoan women and men in media and non-media exposed environments evaluated the same body size. This is really important because the Samoan culture has some of the largest average body sizes yet recorded. This can be the result of body values. The Samoan do not think of their bodies as a source for economic success as the Americans do. In contrast, according to the study, Samoan women expect to get married in spite of their body size because marriage is based on family advantages more than appearance.
Social Epidemiology of Overweight.
In some countries the “risks” of obesity are not being taken into consideration. Studies have shown that the concept of obesity as a problem is culturally relative. And the high class people are the ones that are being affected the most because among Anglos there is a relation between obesity and low class. This was a comparative study between women and men from Mexico and Anglos. Between Anglo women being slim is related to control, elegance, and high class. But this is not the case for the population of some cities in Mexico. In this culture the overweight level for men and women are quite similar. Women are fatter than men but obesity is not seen as ugly and as low class. On the other hand, Anglos view of obesity is related to class positions. There is no significant difference for men but for women the difference is notorious. With increasing social class, Anglo women in this study decreased overweight. This result is connected to gender and how society expects women to look and act in certain way.
Cross-Cultural Differences in the Evaluation of Male and Female Body Shapes.
In this study the concept of obesity was evaluated by two groups. The first group was all British and the second was all Ugandati. There were a total of 24 students evaluating drawings of figures ranging from extremely obese to extremely anorexic. The idea of obesity as ugly is not the same idea for everyone. Important studies have demonstrated that other countries such as India, Puerto Rico and the Philippines showed that obesity is not considered ugly. In fact they admire obesity and considered it as secondary sexual characteristics. In this study the British found thinner figures more attractive than the Ugandans who tended to rate the more heavy obese figures as much more attractive and healthy. Perceptions of healthiness vary among countries. Especially between people from develop and developing countries. This is because body image and stereotypical attractiveness vary according to each culture.
A Perspective on Obesity.
In our society there has been a propagation of the concept that “thin is in”. This concept has strongly influenced the African-American population and as a result, according to this article, the frequency of bulimia and anorexia has increased. For African-American women the food that made them feel good when their husbands and children were taken away from them is now viewed completely different. This article is not about diets so that African-American can be “in”. It’s about evaluating the situation from the African-American historical perspectives of food.
Perception of self-physique and eating behavior of high school students in Japan
Japan is now concerned about obesity and lifestyles. The idea behind this study was to investigate body image perceptions and eating behavior in northern Japan between male and female high school students. The results showed how girls in Japan are now concerned about being thin and as a consequence they are also dissatisfied with their bodies much more than boys. This result is similar to results found in other countries like Saudi Arabia and UK. These girls think of obesity as ugly and unhealthy and a way to avoid being obese is changing their eating behavior.
Friday, November 17, 2006
In conclusion, the idea of obesity, in contrast of what most Americans think, is not the same in all cultures. These studies have probed that being "obese" is not seen as being ugly in countries like Puerto Rico or India. This concept is socially constructed in each culture and as a result each culture has its own perception of what's obesity and what's healthy with respect to body image.
Kelly Boylen
Social Class and Obesity
Social class has always had an effect on a person’s weight. But in past years the trend of obesity and social class has reversed. Instead of the wealthy being heavier because they could afford more food now the lower social classes are more overweight than the upper class. This trend is occurring because in recent years, less nutritious food is cheaper than fresh, non-processed foods.
Article: Social Epidemiology of Overweight: A Substantive and Methodological Investigation
Link: p%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26Query%3Dsocial%2Bclass%2Band%2Bweight
Summary: This article was published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior in 1983. The goal of this article was to examine the relationship of social and cultural factors to obesity. Researchers surveyed El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. As it turns out gender AND social class both contribute to obesity mainly among white women. Obesity decreased along with social class for this population. Social class had little effect on obesity for white men and Mexicans of both genders in 1983.
Article: The Relationship Between Weight and Career Payoffs Among Women
Link: http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/08848971/ap020056/02a00060/0?currentResult=08848971%2bap020056%2b02a00060%2b0%2cFFFFFF01&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26Query%3Dsocial%2Bclass%2Band%2Bweight
Summary: The results of this data survey were that weight has an effect on women and career payoff. This is usually for male-dominated offices and jobs that require a lot of outside contact with other companies. But, income is most related to a woman’s weight at entry-level professional occupations. In conclusion, women who are at or below their ideal weight will have a greater career payoff and a higher income.
Article: Cumulative Disadvantage and Health: Long-Term Consequence of Obesity?
Link: http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00031224/ap050004/05a00040/0?currentResult=00031224%2bap050004%2b05a00040%2b0%2cF7FBFF&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26Query%3Dobesity
Summary: This article explains how obesity (especially in early life) is related to lower body disability after 45 years of age. These disabilities can significantly alter an obese persons way of life. It affects their ability to work and make money, causing significant financial trouble for them and their family. The life course of an obese person and a normal weight person are different in many ways including ability to make money and social class.
Article: Predictors of Adult Obesity
Link: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0887/is_10_20/ai_79957700
Summary: This article states the obesity is a prevalent disorder throughout the world. Also of research has been conducted on the subject and several factors can contribute to obesity. One of these factors is social class. Families in the studies were spit into several groups according to social class 1 being highest and 4 being the lowest. From 1966 on these families were followed for 31 years. Obesity rates were lowest in social classes 1 and 2 at one and 31 years and greatest in social classes 1 and 2 at birth. BMI, the waist-to-hip ratio, and the proportion of obese subjects were all inversely related to social class at 31 years
Article: Natural Food, Unnatural Prices
Link: http://www.alternet.org/story/31260/
Summary: A correspondent for a magazine decided to shop at a health food store called Whole Foods. Whole Foods profits 160 million per year and recently entered the Fortune 500. After looking at the prices of the “healthy foods” he put them to the “Wal-Mart Test”, meaning he found out if a full-time employee of Wal-Mart with two children could afford to shop at Whole Foods. The answer was no. It would cost nearly double to feed two children Whole Foods groceries rather than Wal-Mart groceries.
Social Class and Obesity
Social class has always had an effect on a person’s weight. But in past years the trend of obesity and social class has reversed. Instead of the wealthy being heavier because they could afford more food now the lower social classes are more overweight than the upper class. This trend is occurring because in recent years, less nutritious food is cheaper than fresh, non-processed foods.
Article: Social Epidemiology of Overweight: A Substantive and Methodological Investigation
Link: p%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26Query%3Dsocial%2Bclass%2Band%2Bweight
Summary: This article was published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior in 1983. The goal of this article was to examine the relationship of social and cultural factors to obesity. Researchers surveyed El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. As it turns out gender AND social class both contribute to obesity mainly among white women. Obesity decreased along with social class for this population. Social class had little effect on obesity for white men and Mexicans of both genders in 1983.
Article: The Relationship Between Weight and Career Payoffs Among Women
Link: http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/08848971/ap020056/02a00060/0?currentResult=08848971%2bap020056%2b02a00060%2b0%2cFFFFFF01&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26Query%3Dsocial%2Bclass%2Band%2Bweight
Summary: The results of this data survey were that weight has an effect on women and career payoff. This is usually for male-dominated offices and jobs that require a lot of outside contact with other companies. But, income is most related to a woman’s weight at entry-level professional occupations. In conclusion, women who are at or below their ideal weight will have a greater career payoff and a higher income.
Article: Cumulative Disadvantage and Health: Long-Term Consequence of Obesity?
Link: http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00031224/ap050004/05a00040/0?currentResult=00031224%2bap050004%2b05a00040%2b0%2cF7FBFF&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26Query%3Dobesity
Summary: This article explains how obesity (especially in early life) is related to lower body disability after 45 years of age. These disabilities can significantly alter an obese persons way of life. It affects their ability to work and make money, causing significant financial trouble for them and their family. The life course of an obese person and a normal weight person are different in many ways including ability to make money and social class.
Article: Predictors of Adult Obesity
Link: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0887/is_10_20/ai_79957700
Summary: This article states the obesity is a prevalent disorder throughout the world. Also of research has been conducted on the subject and several factors can contribute to obesity. One of these factors is social class. Families in the studies were spit into several groups according to social class 1 being highest and 4 being the lowest. From 1966 on these families were followed for 31 years. Obesity rates were lowest in social classes 1 and 2 at one and 31 years and greatest in social classes 1 and 2 at birth. BMI, the waist-to-hip ratio, and the proportion of obese subjects were all inversely related to social class at 31 years
Article: Natural Food, Unnatural Prices
Link: http://www.alternet.org/story/31260/
Summary: A correspondent for a magazine decided to shop at a health food store called Whole Foods. Whole Foods profits 160 million per year and recently entered the Fortune 500. After looking at the prices of the “healthy foods” he put them to the “Wal-Mart Test”, meaning he found out if a full-time employee of Wal-Mart with two children could afford to shop at Whole Foods. The answer was no. It would cost nearly double to feed two children Whole Foods groceries rather than Wal-Mart groceries.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
David Helmricks
Obesity: Structural-Functionalism, Consequences, Stigma
How do sociologists look at obesity and what can cause it and some different consequences of obesity. The research below covers three different areas that sociologists looked at: structural-functionalism approach, consequences of obesity, and some prevention methods of obesity. The first three summaries cover the structural-functionalism approach. The forth summary covers some consequences of childhood obesity and some treatments of childhood obesity. The fifth summary covers how stigma affects obesity and responsibility of obesity.
Such a Pretty Face: Being Fat in America, by Marcia Millman. New York: Norton, 1980.
This article was a review of a book. This book was the first book written by a sociologist on obesity. The book covers two different topics during the book. One topic examines a fat person’s life and the second covers the identity struggles of overweight people. They use three different social settings to portray the overall adaptations of the overweight people. In these social settings, they are using the idea of social construction of reality but they are using it as social construction of obesity. They also look at the sex roles; sexuality and obesity have on both men and women and how it can contribute to obesity.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00943061/di973951/97p0972u/0?currentResult=00943061%2bdi973951%2b97p0972u%2b0%2c06&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Consequences%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
Obesity and the Family: Marriage & Family Review, Vol. 7. Mos. ¼, edited by David J.
Kallen and Marvin B. Sussman. New York: Haworth Press, 1984
This review is a collection of a total of nine different articles that are dealing with the phenomena of obesity and dieting. This article takes a more structural-functionalism approach and how society can affect obesity. It was in tribute to the work of a distinguished scholar in sociological analysis of dieting and obesity. Some of the articles take a look at how other family members or other close relatives can effect on other people by how obese they are and also on their dieting. Another article also looks at how social class, gender and obesity are related together. The other articles examine different parts of society and how they affect obesity and how obesity can be controlled.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00943061/di973975/97p0157n/0?currentResult=00943061%2bdi973975%2b97p0157n%2b0%2c03&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Structural-Functionalism%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
Interpreting Weight: The Social Management of Fatness and Thinness, edited by Jeffery Sobal and Donna Maurer. New York: Aldine De Gruyter, 1999.
Weighty Issues: Fatness and Thinness as Social Problems, edited by Jeffery Sobal and Donna Maurer. New York: Aldine De Gruyter, 1999.
This review consists of two similar volumes of work. Both volumes are grouped under the social constructionist umbrella. They also cover how children and socialization to overeating can be a possible cause to obesity. They also see that obesity and overeating is considered bad and against morals. The two volumes also cover how gender and sex may be a cause of obesity between men and women. These volumes are a collaboration of several other authors’ research and interviews.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00943061/di014999/01p0188p/0?currentResult=00943061%2bdi014999%2b01p0188p%2b0%2c06&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Consequences%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
Childhood Obesity, ed. Collipp, Platon J. Acton, Massachusetts: Publishing Sciences
Group, Inc., 1975.
This book looks at childhood obesity and what can be done to prevent or treat it. Each chapter in the book is different. It covers from identifying what is obesity in children to several prevention methods of obesity. This book is looking at the treatments of obesity that was caused by society and what society can do to change the way our children are eating even in public schools. It also covers what obesity can cause as in diseases and pictures of some of the different diseases connected to obese children.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00147214/ap020040/02a00170/0?currentResult=00147214%2bap020040%2b02a00170%2b0%2c07&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
The Stigma of Obesity: The Consequences of Naïve Assumptions Concerning the Causes of Physical Deviance, DeJong, William. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 1980.
In this article, it talks about Goffman’s view of stigma. It also looks at his three different types of stigma. Then it takes the stigma of obesity. It sees how stigma is used in reference to elementary school age children and sees what they think of different pictures of people and where they would place them. They used pictures of a normal kid, disabled kids and a picture of an obese kid. They wanted to see where the children would place the pictures in order as in socially correct order. Also this article looked at stigma and responsibility and how they were related to obesity. Then in the article there was two similar experiments done to see if adolescent girls would have any affect on an obese peer.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00221465/di976067/97p0189n/0?currentResult=00221465%2bdi976067%2b97p0189n%2b0%2cEB3E&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Prevention%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
In conclusion, these articles cover a little of everything. The main focus of these summaries is to look at how structural-functionalism, consequences and stigma affects obesity. Even though most of the articles are summaries of other books, these summaries are summaries of them and how they are related to the three different subtopics that I looked at in the main topic of the group obesity.
Obesity: Structural-Functionalism, Consequences, Stigma
How do sociologists look at obesity and what can cause it and some different consequences of obesity. The research below covers three different areas that sociologists looked at: structural-functionalism approach, consequences of obesity, and some prevention methods of obesity. The first three summaries cover the structural-functionalism approach. The forth summary covers some consequences of childhood obesity and some treatments of childhood obesity. The fifth summary covers how stigma affects obesity and responsibility of obesity.
Such a Pretty Face: Being Fat in America, by Marcia Millman. New York: Norton, 1980.
This article was a review of a book. This book was the first book written by a sociologist on obesity. The book covers two different topics during the book. One topic examines a fat person’s life and the second covers the identity struggles of overweight people. They use three different social settings to portray the overall adaptations of the overweight people. In these social settings, they are using the idea of social construction of reality but they are using it as social construction of obesity. They also look at the sex roles; sexuality and obesity have on both men and women and how it can contribute to obesity.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00943061/di973951/97p0972u/0?currentResult=00943061%2bdi973951%2b97p0972u%2b0%2c06&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Consequences%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
Obesity and the Family: Marriage & Family Review, Vol. 7. Mos. ¼, edited by David J.
Kallen and Marvin B. Sussman. New York: Haworth Press, 1984
This review is a collection of a total of nine different articles that are dealing with the phenomena of obesity and dieting. This article takes a more structural-functionalism approach and how society can affect obesity. It was in tribute to the work of a distinguished scholar in sociological analysis of dieting and obesity. Some of the articles take a look at how other family members or other close relatives can effect on other people by how obese they are and also on their dieting. Another article also looks at how social class, gender and obesity are related together. The other articles examine different parts of society and how they affect obesity and how obesity can be controlled.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00943061/di973975/97p0157n/0?currentResult=00943061%2bdi973975%2b97p0157n%2b0%2c03&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Structural-Functionalism%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
Interpreting Weight: The Social Management of Fatness and Thinness, edited by Jeffery Sobal and Donna Maurer. New York: Aldine De Gruyter, 1999.
Weighty Issues: Fatness and Thinness as Social Problems, edited by Jeffery Sobal and Donna Maurer. New York: Aldine De Gruyter, 1999.
This review consists of two similar volumes of work. Both volumes are grouped under the social constructionist umbrella. They also cover how children and socialization to overeating can be a possible cause to obesity. They also see that obesity and overeating is considered bad and against morals. The two volumes also cover how gender and sex may be a cause of obesity between men and women. These volumes are a collaboration of several other authors’ research and interviews.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00943061/di014999/01p0188p/0?currentResult=00943061%2bdi014999%2b01p0188p%2b0%2c06&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Consequences%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
Childhood Obesity, ed. Collipp, Platon J. Acton, Massachusetts: Publishing Sciences
Group, Inc., 1975.
This book looks at childhood obesity and what can be done to prevent or treat it. Each chapter in the book is different. It covers from identifying what is obesity in children to several prevention methods of obesity. This book is looking at the treatments of obesity that was caused by society and what society can do to change the way our children are eating even in public schools. It also covers what obesity can cause as in diseases and pictures of some of the different diseases connected to obese children.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00147214/ap020040/02a00170/0?currentResult=00147214%2bap020040%2b02a00170%2b0%2c07&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
The Stigma of Obesity: The Consequences of Naïve Assumptions Concerning the Causes of Physical Deviance, DeJong, William. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 1980.
In this article, it talks about Goffman’s view of stigma. It also looks at his three different types of stigma. Then it takes the stigma of obesity. It sees how stigma is used in reference to elementary school age children and sees what they think of different pictures of people and where they would place them. They used pictures of a normal kid, disabled kids and a picture of an obese kid. They wanted to see where the children would place the pictures in order as in socially correct order. Also this article looked at stigma and responsibility and how they were related to obesity. Then in the article there was two similar experiments done to see if adolescent girls would have any affect on an obese peer.
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00221465/di976067/97p0189n/0?currentResult=00221465%2bdi976067%2b97p0189n%2b0%2cEB3E&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26All%3DObesity%2B-Prevention%26Exact%3D%26One%3D%26None%3D%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26jt%3D%26dc%3DSociology
In conclusion, these articles cover a little of everything. The main focus of these summaries is to look at how structural-functionalism, consequences and stigma affects obesity. Even though most of the articles are summaries of other books, these summaries are summaries of them and how they are related to the three different subtopics that I looked at in the main topic of the group obesity.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Steph Weed
Childhood Obesity
Nutrition and eating patterns are common factors leading to obesity that can begin at birth. Often parents eating habits are passed onto their children giving them their own bad practices for life. This sets up children for future health problems along with social implications. Household environments for children can become the early factors leading to obesity by not only what they eat at home, but at what time, in what context, and how often.
1. Household, Parent, and Child Contributions to Childhood Obesity
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01976664/ap020084/02a00080/0?currentResult=01976664+ap020084+02a00080+0,FF01&searchUrl=http://www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults?hp=25&si=1&Query=child+obesity
Sara Gable; Susan Lutz
Family Relations, Vol. 49, No. 3. (Jul., 2000), pp. 293-300.
An increase in child obesity has become a serious public health concern. By examining the household environment, parenting beliefs, and child characteristics of obese and non-obese children, this article tries to distinguish which children are at risk by non-physical elements of their lives. One strategy this author takes is instead of examining adult obesiety, focus more attention in the development of obesity in children. Childhood obesiety is not caused by one factor, rather an array of elements including pediatric nutrition, family demographics, child televison viewing, and physical activity. Obesiety is an interaction of these elements which make direct and indirect contributions to children’s health.
2. Nutrition, Activity, and Health in Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00846570/di982518/98p0024l/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Darna L. Dufour
Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 26. (1997), pp. 541-565.
This article makes associations between the amount of physical activity and nutrition in children ages 1 to 10. Energy balance, which refers to the eqiulibrium between food intake and energy expenditure, is one approach to better understand nutritional adaptation in children. Physical acitivity in children is considered essential for optimal growth, development, and health. Is it possible that physical acitvity is protective against child obesity? The authors research focues on four broad areas; the effects of undernutrition or physical acitivity in young children, habitual levels of physical activity in healthy children, the relationship between industrialized countries, fatness, and health in children, and also accesses how physical activity is a component of total daily expenditure.
3. Age and Sex Differences in Values toward Physical Handicaps
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00221465/di976033/97p06826/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Stephen A. Richardson
Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 11, No. 3. (Sep., 1970), pp. 207-214.
How do children view their peers with physical handicaps, obesity being one of them? Children from kindergarten to high school and their parents were studied on their values towards various disabilities. The studied concluded that there is a widespread preference for non-handicapped over the handicapped children and certain disabilities are preferred more then other disabilities. It was found that a functional handicap (obesity) was favored more by adults then other adolescents. As age increased, adolescents slowly started preferring that more then other disabilities. With increasing age the children’s preferences come closer to those of the parents. The lowest point of agreement between males and females is around the 6th grade, where puberty suggests different preferences towards obesity while going through this transition. How obesity is viewed by peers changes along with age.
4. Social Location, Significant Others and Body Image Among Adolescents
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01902725/dm993227/99p0389u/0?searchUrl=http%3a//www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults%3fhp%3d25%26si%3d26%26Query%3dchild%2bobesity&citationAction=save&charset=u&frame=noframe&dpi=&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14¤tResult=01902725%2bdm993227%2b99p0389u%2b0%2c9601&config=&citationPath=01902725-dm993227-99p0389u&PAGE=0
Richard Levinson; Brian Powell; Lala Carr Steelman
Social Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 49, No. 4. (Dec., 1986), pp. 330-337
Examined in this study are social factors that affect the self-evaluations of body weight provided by more than 6500 adolescents. How an individual sees his/her physical exterior does not always coincide with their actual health. The high rates of life-threatening disorders (from obesity to anorexia) testify to the lack of objectivity that can occur with self-evaluations. Personal dissatisfaction and pressure for a preferred body type can lead to emotional eating and depression (direct link to obesity). Females not only criticize their own body types, they are judgmental of other women. Sex, race, and socioeconomic status all have differentiated desirable weight. The study concludes that body images are more likely to be self-derogatory then enhancing, females are more likely then males to be self-critical, more females view themselves as “too heavy”, and parental perceptions of body size are associated with the body images of adolescents.
5. Styles of Infant Feeding: Parental/Caretaker Control of Food Consumption in Young Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00027294/ap020477/02a00100/0?currentResult=00027294%2bap020477%2b02a00100%2b0%2cFE01&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D26%26Query%3Dchild%2Bobesity
Katherine A. Dettwyler
American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 91, No. 3. (Sep., 1989), pp. 696-703.
The household that a child grows up in sets the stage for eating habits of its future. Various food distribution patterns lead to high rates of morbidity (obesity), especially for female children in particular. To study these styles of infant feeding the author asks questions such as what the child eats, when the child eats (how many times a day, on demand, snacks), how the child eats (uses hands or utensils, where in the house), the social context of the meal, and who controls what and how much the child eats. The author even suggests that the control of the food may be just as or more important then what is eaten. Family income is always directly translated into food.
Childhood obesity has multiple psychological and social consequences along with numerous health threats. How a child views themselves and how others view them changes along with age, but an obese child is most likely always viewed different from their peers then someone without a physical handicap. Eating habits for life start at home and parents need to be in control of what is consumed by their children.
Nutrition and eating patterns are common factors leading to obesity that can begin at birth. Often parents eating habits are passed onto their children giving them their own bad practices for life. This sets up children for future health problems along with social implications. Household environments for children can become the early factors leading to obesity by not only what they eat at home, but at what time, in what context, and how often.
1. Household, Parent, and Child Contributions to Childhood Obesity
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01976664/ap020084/02a00080/0?currentResult=01976664+ap020084+02a00080+0,FF01&searchUrl=http://www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults?hp=25&si=1&Query=child+obesity
Sara Gable; Susan Lutz
Family Relations, Vol. 49, No. 3. (Jul., 2000), pp. 293-300.
An increase in child obesity has become a serious public health concern. By examining the household environment, parenting beliefs, and child characteristics of obese and non-obese children, this article tries to distinguish which children are at risk by non-physical elements of their lives. One strategy this author takes is instead of examining adult obesiety, focus more attention in the development of obesity in children. Childhood obesiety is not caused by one factor, rather an array of elements including pediatric nutrition, family demographics, child televison viewing, and physical activity. Obesiety is an interaction of these elements which make direct and indirect contributions to children’s health.
2. Nutrition, Activity, and Health in Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00846570/di982518/98p0024l/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Darna L. Dufour
Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 26. (1997), pp. 541-565.
This article makes associations between the amount of physical activity and nutrition in children ages 1 to 10. Energy balance, which refers to the eqiulibrium between food intake and energy expenditure, is one approach to better understand nutritional adaptation in children. Physical acitivity in children is considered essential for optimal growth, development, and health. Is it possible that physical acitvity is protective against child obesity? The authors research focues on four broad areas; the effects of undernutrition or physical acitivity in young children, habitual levels of physical activity in healthy children, the relationship between industrialized countries, fatness, and health in children, and also accesses how physical activity is a component of total daily expenditure.
3. Age and Sex Differences in Values toward Physical Handicaps
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00221465/di976033/97p06826/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Stephen A. Richardson
Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 11, No. 3. (Sep., 1970), pp. 207-214.
How do children view their peers with physical handicaps, obesity being one of them? Children from kindergarten to high school and their parents were studied on their values towards various disabilities. The studied concluded that there is a widespread preference for non-handicapped over the handicapped children and certain disabilities are preferred more then other disabilities. It was found that a functional handicap (obesity) was favored more by adults then other adolescents. As age increased, adolescents slowly started preferring that more then other disabilities. With increasing age the children’s preferences come closer to those of the parents. The lowest point of agreement between males and females is around the 6th grade, where puberty suggests different preferences towards obesity while going through this transition. How obesity is viewed by peers changes along with age.
4. Social Location, Significant Others and Body Image Among Adolescents
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01902725/dm993227/99p0389u/0?searchUrl=http%3a//www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults%3fhp%3d25%26si%3d26%26Query%3dchild%2bobesity&citationAction=save&charset=u&frame=noframe&dpi=&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14¤tResult=01902725%2bdm993227%2b99p0389u%2b0%2c9601&config=&citationPath=01902725-dm993227-99p0389u&PAGE=0
Richard Levinson; Brian Powell; Lala Carr Steelman
Social Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 49, No. 4. (Dec., 1986), pp. 330-337
Examined in this study are social factors that affect the self-evaluations of body weight provided by more than 6500 adolescents. How an individual sees his/her physical exterior does not always coincide with their actual health. The high rates of life-threatening disorders (from obesity to anorexia) testify to the lack of objectivity that can occur with self-evaluations. Personal dissatisfaction and pressure for a preferred body type can lead to emotional eating and depression (direct link to obesity). Females not only criticize their own body types, they are judgmental of other women. Sex, race, and socioeconomic status all have differentiated desirable weight. The study concludes that body images are more likely to be self-derogatory then enhancing, females are more likely then males to be self-critical, more females view themselves as “too heavy”, and parental perceptions of body size are associated with the body images of adolescents.
5. Styles of Infant Feeding: Parental/Caretaker Control of Food Consumption in Young Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00027294/ap020477/02a00100/0?currentResult=00027294%2bap020477%2b02a00100%2b0%2cFE01&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D26%26Query%3Dchild%2Bobesity
Katherine A. Dettwyler
American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 91, No. 3. (Sep., 1989), pp. 696-703.
The household that a child grows up in sets the stage for eating habits of its future. Various food distribution patterns lead to high rates of morbidity (obesity), especially for female children in particular. To study these styles of infant feeding the author asks questions such as what the child eats, when the child eats (how many times a day, on demand, snacks), how the child eats (uses hands or utensils, where in the house), the social context of the meal, and who controls what and how much the child eats. The author even suggests that the control of the food may be just as or more important then what is eaten. Family income is always directly translated into food.
Childhood obesity has multiple psychological and social consequences along with numerous health threats. How a child views themselves and how others view them changes along with age, but an obese child is most likely always viewed different from their peers then someone without a physical handicap. Eating habits for life start at home and parents need to be in control of what is consumed by their children.
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