The Dangers of Society

Fat people need loving and understanding too! Not every single fat person is obese or has an eating disorder. It is possible their dietary habits and inactivity contribute to their obesity, but it’s certain that conditions beyond their control also contribute to them storing excess body fat. Obesity is not just an appearance.  It is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that it may have a negative effect on health. Obesity is a metabolic condition—a result of the complex processes by which the body converts food into energy—it can also be influenced by chemicals in the environment (over which we have limited control) and genetics (over which we have no control). We can not blame ourselves for the things we can’t control such as the way we look and what our bodies do to us. 

In the last century, researchers have recognized a rapid increase in obesity cases. Obesity accounts for approximately 20% of all cancer cases. This doesn’t mean that the other 80% of cancer cases can’t be obese, it means other health conditions contributed to this cancer case. Evidence is showing the benefits of physical activity for breast and colon cancers. The growing epidemic of obesity provides a challenge to clinical practice and the implementation of guidelines for the management of weight. Obesity is one of the top leading causes of cancer. According to the world health organization, obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. In the U.S. 42% of adults were considered obese (2017-2018). For individuals with all cancers combined, CVD was the leading cause of competing mortality in both male and female patients with cancer. CVD can be caused by obesity. Men are more likely to be more active than women. Heart disease and weight loss are closely linked because your risk for heart disease is associated with your weight. If you are overweight or obese, you may be at higher risk for the condition. Medical experts consider obesity and being overweight to be major risk factors for both coronary heart disease and heart attack.

The term “obesity” is misrepresented by society as someone who is overweight. What isn’t recognized is the health problems that follow obesity. Obesity can cause heart problems and can lead to cancer and sometimes death. Throughout society, obesity is judgemental but it can be solved with the use of activity rather than judgments. Research is extremely important in stopping the unhealthy habits that lead to obesity. Obesity is taken more seriously by medical care. Society continues to judge and make fun of what they don’t know.

Physical activity, body size, and metabolic efficiency are related to total energy intake. It is difficult to assess the independent effect of energy intake on cancer risk. There are sufficient pieces of evidence to support the role of physical activity in preventing cancers of the colon and breast. The association is stronger in men than in women for colon cancer and in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women for breast cancer. While obesity can be looked up on the internet for an exact definition, society has its own reflection on obesity and so does the medical field. 

Many humans who are not medical care workers will define obesity as “fat people” or “overweight people” and while that may be the case, it can be argued. Overweight people can be narrowed down to people who don’t exercise, people who eat poorly, and genetics that give overweight people the unfortunate disadvantage of being prone to certain diseases. Ask anyone what obesity means and they will narrow it down to those three factors. Society is judgemental. Society’s first instinct is to judge someone who is obese. In reality, the unhealthy habits of not exercising and eating healthy needs to stop. Those are things that can stop. While society is quick to judge someone who is obese, medical care takes caution of obesity. 

Anyone in the medical field can say that when an obese person comes in, they are ready for work. Obesity is one of the top causes for cancers in men and women. However, it is more likely in women. Obesity is a complex disease that cannot be minimized to the “calories in/calories out” mantra that has become commonplace. Factors that can contribute to weight might include biological issues such as genetics and hormonal changes that come with aging; developmental issues such as parental obesity; psychological issues including depression or history of trauma; or environmental factors, such as large portion sizes. These are just a few of the many possible contributors.

Obesity is taken more seriously by medical care and is unfairly judged by society. Obesity can cause cancer. There is no way of denying that it can. It is perfectly understood that cancer is dangerous. There are over 100 types of cancer. Any part of the body can be affected by cancer. Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world causing 22% of cancer deaths. Obesity is dangerous. The risk of cancer increases with the more excess weight a person gains and the longer a person is overweight. 

Many people will agree that most of the time, being overweight is all the person’s fault, which in some cases is true. Society is so judgemental on people’s weight that there are stigmas and set opinions. Society has an obesity stigma which is: “The stigmatization of people with obesity is widespread and causes harm. Weight stigma is often propagated and tolerated in society because of beliefs that stigma and shame will motivate people to lose weight.”  This stigma contributes to behaviors such as binge eating, social isolation, avoidance of health care services, decreased physical activity, and increased weight gain, which worsen obesity and create additional barriers to healthy behavior change. So while the medical field is influencing obesity to stop and giving tips, society is ruining those chances of demolishing obesity. 

Overall, obesity can be argued. Society will make it seem like it is just a little bit of weight while the medical field will take control. The stigma needs to stop. Obesity can cause more than change in appearance. It can cause more health issues than people imagine. Obesity needs to be treated and the person needs to be  helped. Obesity is taken more seriously by medical professionals and dieticians and is judged more by society. The quicker that society realizes the health crisis of obesity and they take it seriously, the faster we drop the percentage of obese people. Obesity can cause cancer if it is not taken care of in due time.

References

Obesity and Cancer | CDC. (2021, March 10). http://Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/obesity/index.htm

Pan, S. Y., & DesMeules, M. (2009). Energy intake, physical activity, energy balance, and cancer: epidemiologic evidence. Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.), 472, 191–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-492-0_8

Pont, S. J., Puhl, R., Cook, S. R., & Slusser, W. (2017). Stigma Experienced by Children and Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatrics, 140(6), e20173034. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-3034

Tsang, N. M., Pai, P. C., Chuang, C. C., Chuang, W. C., Tseng, C. K., Chang, K. P., Yen, T. C., Lin, J. D., & Chang, J. T. C. (2016). Overweight and obesity predict better overall survival rates in cancer patients with distant metastases. Cancer Medicine, 5(4), 665–675. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.634