StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Messages about Obesity - Assignment Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper "Messages about Obesity" focuses on the fact that Ellen Satter hit the nail on the head when she said that a lot of negative stereotypes go with the term “obese” and, therefore, it would be in the interest of the children struggling with weight problems not to be termed so. …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.5% of users find it useful
Messages about Obesity
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Messages about Obesity"

Q1. Ellen Satter, I believe, hit the nail on the head when she said that a lot of negative stereotypes go with the term “obese” and, therefore, it would be in the interest of the children struggling with weight problems not to be termed so. Moreover, she has very aptly put forward that the children should not be deprived of food, merely because the parents feel anxious about their children’s obesity/weight problem. If the parents decide that it is up to them to make decisions regarding what food shall be given to their children and when, and let their children decide the amount of food they eat as well as if they are hungry or not, obesity in children can be reduced greatly. The parents, with their experience and knowledge, will mostly make sound and good judgments about their children’s diet. However, I also believe that Ellen Satter should have urged Michelle Obama to help the impoverished families in obtaining the wherewithal and knowledge regarding healthy and balanced diets, and not just talk about the privileged or middle class families who have the capacity to include fruits and vegetables and other healthy, yet comparatively more expensive, food choices in their children’s diet. Q2. (a) I believe the concerns that have prompted organizations like “Concerned Children’s Advertisers” are very legitimate and real. We live in a society where most of the children are constantly bombarded by advertisements in various media; whether it is television programming, magazines for children or websites, children are always surrounded by various advertisements. It is our role, as a society, to make sure that our children have the knowledge and information to deal with these advertisements. If the children are not media literate, then a lot of the advertisements they see are taken by them at face value, and, consequently, as their minds are young and naïve, be influenced greatly by them. It is not enough to lay the blame on the advertisers, and it is naïve to expect them to change their policies regarding their advertisements that are aimed at children specifically. In consequence, it is actually very wise and prudent to take up the cause of educating the children, so that they themselves can discern the various nuances of the advertisement and make informed choices based on them. (b) After reading Advertising and Obesity: A Behavioral Perspective, I cannot help but agree with the assertion that it is not advertising alone that is to be blamed for obesity. Not only can advertising have minimal to no effect on our behavior modification, but there is a great need for us to change our own environment to be able to avoid obesity and have a healthier lifestyle. I do not hold that advertising is not to be blamed at all for obesity, especially in children, however, I hold that it is much more important for us to create an environment where healthy eating is not only possible, but is encouraged and approved. In advertisements, there is a reinforcement factor or the overall effect of social approval and acceptance of a certain food choice and not much else, however, there is always the danger, I feel, of excessive consumption of unhealthy food. Healthy eating initiatives by the advertising agencies clearly show that they actually do believe that their advertisements have an effect on the behavior of the consumers. Nonetheless, I believe strongly that if we were to change the overall “diet” environment, and gave healthier options to the children as well as reinforced their healthy food choices by some sort of reward, obesity can be controlled. (c) Messages about Obesity – Making them Stick sets out a good guideline for how to impart more information about healthy eating. I find this really surprising that though a lot of people are aware of the bad results of their unhealthy choices, yet a lot of effort is needed to persuade them to change their behavior or adopt a new one with regard thereto. I have a cousin who is medically obese; however, he refuses to change his eating habits, or even to modify them. He also seems uninterested in adopting a healthier lifestyle that would cause him to at least have the opportunity to spend more calories than his present activities. His parents and immediate family have tried everything, from fear to encouragement, but nothing seems to work. In this regard, I feel these messages made me realize that perhaps his family is not going about the issue in an effective way. Often, his mother enables him by buying him high-sugar food, and scolds him and warns him of the dangers thereof while simultaneously handing him the food. I feel if there were a healthy eating initiative at his school it would help him a great deal. Children are more inclined to adopt better dietary habits if they are not only reinforced by their environment, but also encouraged. A program in his school that offers fruits and vegetables rather than the fast food like items that are being given presently, would help him to overcome his obesity. (d) I was actually quite impressed with the reading “Reconciling the Difference: Art as Reparation and Healing”. There is often a mind body split that we create in our minds, perhaps due to our society, or our own experiences and knowledge. We consider the body to be different than our mind and vice versa. However, on deeper analysis, it is revealed how effective the healing process is if we disregard such a rift and consider the mind and body to be a part of a whole; our self. I read what the poster Marie had to offer on the subject and was blown away by the example of her nephew’s treatment facility. The approach of using art to heal is novel; however, her post clearly demonstrates the need for further exploration in this matter as there seems to be a very positive effect of art on the healing process. I, myself, have not had the opportunity to personally be involved in such a treatment facility, though I have often had the experience of having an illness and then feeling much better after I have read a book of poetry, or seen a movie that I enjoyed watching. This clearly shows that the Shamanistic approach of leading one away from the illness through things like visualizations and chanting can also help in the healing process. There are many incantations in the religion Islam for the sick, and I feel they have a positive effect on the sick person because of the therapeutic value of imagery, visualization and incantation. I feel, a good example in this regard would be the concept of the healing power of prayer that many of us, belonging to different faiths, hold true and valid. Q3. Educators are constantly involved in imparting knowledge and educating the less-informed. It is just as important for them to stay informed of the latest research and techniques so that they are well versed in the methods of educating. That is why, I think, it would be very appropriate for us to have our last class based on educating the educators. The class should focus on teaching us effective methods of getting our point across to our students, in essence, to improve our teaching techniques. We should be instructed how we, as educators, can not only improve our techniques, but also ourselves, so that whatever message we want to send holds more validity and soundness to our audience. Moreover, we should have an idea as to how to successfully educate our audience in a way that would be least burdensome for both ourselves and the audience. Perhaps an effective way of this would be to bring experienced educators to speak in our class about their experiences and learning. Q4. I agree with Sharon – our role as dieticians touches upon such a personal matter for our clients, that we need to be aware of their cultural and religious background. This is not to say that we should know everything about every culture beforehand, but that when consulting with a client, we need to be aware of his individuality and, therefore, his individual preferences as well as his individual cultural, ethnic and religious background. This would enable us to give better services to our clients. As John, I also believe in respect and professionalism leading to the road of success, however, unlike him, I think that professionalism encompasses the need to know about the client’s culture and treating him in a way that does not put him in a contradictory position thereto. The nutritional assessment, I feel, would be incomplete if we do not put it in the perspective of the client’s cultural background. Q5. Gingras puts forward a very unique and, I feel, much needed proposal regarding our obsession with obesity and fat. In this day and age, perhaps the only form of blatant bigotry that is left is the bigotry against the obese and the fat; instances where people were fired from their jobs or let go only because of their weight are now spread across our society. We have stopped judging people based on the color of the skin, perhaps, but we cannot stop ourselves from judging others based on their weight. Like Gingras, I believe, this trend needs to be stopped now as it has gone on far enough. Just like Susan and Joy opined in their posts, the media have a lot to be blamed for in this regard – whether it is images of skinny people being idolized or portrayed as “ideal body types” or the derision expressed for the obese, the media have perpetuated and enabled the judgmental behavior of the society against the obese. Moreover, like Joy and Susan, I also believe that not only is it wrong to lay the entire blame on the obese for their problem, but it is also not right to be noncommittal about trying to investigate various other factors, whether they be environmental, societal or health related, that contribute to obesity. Much research is needed in this regard, which is all the more important from the viewpoint of the obese who, so far, thanks to the media and the messages they send, have been solely blamed for their condition. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Messages about Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words, n.d.)
Messages about Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1564932-qs-need-to-be-answers
(Messages about Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 Words)
Messages about Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 Words. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1564932-qs-need-to-be-answers.
“Messages about Obesity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1564932-qs-need-to-be-answers.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Messages about Obesity

Childhood Obesity by Dr. Kai: Khalili Foundation Joins with L.A. Unified to Fight Childhood Obesity

This paper discusses a video source about Doctors Eraj Basseri and Kai Nishi's interview who have launched an obesity volunteer sensitization program in L.... The paper analyses the active life as a way of keeping fit, and shunning any possible chances that may lead them to have obesity.... This is by interrogating doctors about their views concerning the method they have preferred to prevent obesity besides eating “smart”.... Mainly, the entire video's content regards obesity among children where both Drs....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

Obesity as a Sin of Gluttony

What is intriguing about obesity is that the cases are persistently increasing around the globe.... obesity as a sin of Gluttony Name Institution obesity refers to a medical condition that is characterized by building up of excess fat around the body tissues.... hellip; The Body Mass Index is used is used to ascertain the obesity conditions of the body.... In the attempt to curb the health issues pertaining to obesity, various causes of obesity have been identified....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

Combating Obesity in the US

Combating obesity in the U.... Abstract The study intends to evaluate the factors that cause obesity and the efforts taken by the people of the United States to combat the problem of obesity.... The study further reviews the points of various researchers regarding the issue of obesity.... hellip; An evaluation of the knowledge about the health policies impact on people in relation to obesity has been made.... The obesity is an issue which can be curbed by sharing knowledge and making people aware of the drawbacks a person might face due to obesity....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

Obesity among American consumers

Brown American Intercontinental Week IP 2 Given the trend in obesity among American consumers, which industries stand to benefit the most Why Those industries that sell products related to health, especially those related to foods that promise weight reduction benefit from these trends.... ow will consumers react New research shows that most Americans are well aware of the risks of obesity.... that the best way to lose weight is to exercise more, and to eat less fat and more carbohydrates ("The obesity Industry," 2005)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Social Determinants of Healthcare Delivery Service

hellip; The Campaign to End obesity is also concerned with the elimination of the costliest disease in America.... The leaders of the Campaign are of the point of view that it is necessary for change to occur in order to reduce the prevalence of obesity in adults and children.... obesity is becoming a serious health condition in the US and is starting to be referred to as an epidemic (Mechanic 112).... The obesity epidemic is at its very worst in the US (Plunkett)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Communication plan for childhood obesity

This essay describes the plan how to prevent the obesity among kids through the communication.... This essay "Communication plan for childhood obesity" outlines the draft how to reduce the growing rate of obese children in consequence of communication strategy.... Parents have the greatest responsibility in bringing change to the current level of obesity among the young children in US....
5 Pages (1250 words) Term Paper

Does Soda Cause Obesity

The message communicated by the video, in one sentence is that drinking one soda The thesis for the advertisement is: drink soda, and you add weight, to the levels of obesity in a few years.... The intended addressee's group for the commercial is the general population, due to the fact that concerns over childhood and adulthood obesity have hit the news over the last decade (CPHE and NCCPC 4).... Taking into account that obesity is a problem that affects all people, rich and poor, young and old, healthy and sickly, can offer the indication that the advertisement is not targeted at any social class of people (CPHE and NCCPC 5)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Consumption of Weight Loss and UK Television Adverts

In the UK, high levels of apprehension are, presently, based on the indication of growing obesity among children (WHO, 2000)1.... In view of the contradictory messages conveyed by television commercials, concerning the importance of dieting/use of weight loss or slimming food products to accomplish a skinny ideal; the amplified prevalence of obesity in the United Kingdom; and widespread televised messages promoting its viewers be ultra-skinny and at the same time indulge in fatty foods, there appears to be a significant inconsistency in the media messages conveyed to the UK population with regard to healthy and harmless food habits as well as notions about proper means of weight control....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Proposal
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us