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Obesity: Social Or Personal Problem?

This topic is not to discuss the health risks of obesity and the medical side to it, but the cultural side to it. There are many problems and issues in society that are labelled either a social problem, a problem that effects society as a whole, or a personal problem, a situation that is on a personal level rather than a macro level. A social problem can be a personal problem, but a social problem does not have to touch the lives of everybody in that society. A personal problem can be or become a social problem.

The American culture is becoming increasingly aware that we are the "Fast food nation" And that dieting is becoming a thing seen on every street corner and every commercial.

Here are some statistics I found from a website about the mortality statistics caused by obesity:

Source 6

Do you think that obesity is a social problem or a personal problem? Should it be looked at as a personal problem or a social problem? If deemed a social problem, what should society do to help lower the issue?

Problem Personal Social Obesity

This is a very difficult subject, because the underlying causes of obesity are so varied and vary by individual. Here's why I think obesity in the USA is a societal problem.

In the US, our culture has become so physically passive in so many ways. We have armchair quarterbacks, couch potatoes, desk jockies, secretarial spread, video game addicts, internet junkies. TV is the drug of choice for many people, and the programming and commercials seem to aim at "dumbing down" the populace, while enticing us all to eat and eat and eat (you want fries with that?). Somewhere along the line, it became cool to be an underachiever, to stay behind the scenes, fly low on the radar.

How in the world do we as a society combat this insidious race to relax, chill out, kick back, take it easy, don't work too hard, take a pill, ease up, lighten up, don't-worry-be-happy?

Then, on the other hand, we are so terribly busy all the time. All day at school, all day at work, with no time to cook so we drive-through, order delivery or take out, visit the buffet, or use ultra-processed full-of-chemicals convenience foods from the freezer section at the grocery store. We don't grow, raise, or preserve any of the food we eat, ourselves -- no gardens to work in, no weeds to pull, no cows to milk or chickens to feed, etc. We don't work for our food anymore, as our grandparents and parents did. Commercially grown produce is lacking in real nutrution and is full of chemicals, because the land has been horribly over-used, and must be restored with chemical fertilizers and soil conditioners in order to sustain the next crop.

All of these things add up over time to no exercise, terrible nutrition, and a complete lack of knowledge or understanding of what good health is. The government's food pyramid is a joke, and has not led to any increase in overall public health. The general public is like a big flock of sheep, being led hither and yon by every new fad, and no one thinking for themselves.

And that's where the individual side of it comes in. If we as individuals would study and learn about things for ourselves, grow as much of our own food as we can, become more physically active, we would have a much better chance of sustaining a healthier lifestyle. Society doesn't encourage this approach, however, and wants you to pay someone else to do it for you.

In my opinion, of course.
Roz

Obesity: Social Or Personal Problem? Reviews Consumer & Travel Family Culture

I agree with Roz, I think....

To make the issue more confusing, the answer is that it is both social and personal. Society is in a rush rush rush to relax and be lazy. That is to say that while we continue to work ourselves to death at work and school, we aren't getting any exercise outside work and eating fast food constantly so as to make up for the time we spend working and then watching tv. To say its not social says that our work environment and the fast food mentality of business is personal and can be ignored. It can't and that makes it a social problem to deal with.

However, each person has their own choices to make and I would be shirking responsibility as an obese person myself to say the issue is all societys fault. I still have to say no to that fast food and yes to getting my butt off the computer (, serious irony in this thread!) and exercise. My long days at work are no excuse if I am serious about losing weight. Its really about what is most important, which makes this issue personal as well.

So how can we fix it? How can we change the persons mind set of eating out and sitting in front of the TV when they get home? How can we stop the onslaught of McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken that continually throw bad food on the TV and give us the desire to buy it instead of taking the time to cook a good meal? The short answer is: I don't know, and I don't think anyone really does either.

Problem Personal Social Obesity

I think is a social problem. I lived two years in the USA and I put so much weight during those two years and it's so easy! I mean, watching TV and seeing all those GREAT fast food deals you all have, is almost impossible not to rush to Taco Bell and eat some burritos! Fast food is so cheap that is obviously that the market is hitting to those fast food lovers particularly who tend to be overweight. In most countries, fast food is not as cheap and I think it may be one of those reasons the society as a whole is not as obese but give them the chance to have just soft drinks re-fills and you'll see how that society becomes just like the one in the US.

Problem Personal Social Obesity

I think you all make some excellent points but I believe the obesity problem is also psychological.

Americans except more bang for their buck. So does most other people in the developed world. It's about upsizing, getting more value for your hard earned cash. And if we don't get large portions we will go somewhere else until we do.

I think a lot of things are becoming cheaper these days, and so is the quality. Look at cars for instance, you can buy cheap, nasty, plastic machines for $10,000 in Australia. But they are rubbish. Fast food is no different. You get relatively large servings with little nutrition.

We are now taught from a young age on TV that McDonalds is cool and healthy (I couldn't believe it when they started that ad campaign)! And you can get a free toy and large fries with your happy meal.

The obesity epidemic is the biggest health problem in the first world. It appears to have hit the US the hardest but it is being felt over here in Australia too. There are so many factors that are contributing. But I like the point that Roz makes about our lives becoming so much easier. We crave creature comforts because we have so little time to devote towards exercise, cooking and looking after ourselves. This is only going to get worse.

To fix it we need to change our lifestyle, culture and wake up to the reality of fast food. But I doubt the large multi-nationals will be to keen for that to happen.

Obesity: Social Or Personal Problem?

I have to agree with LDS_forever on this issue. I lived in Trinidad from the time I was 3 till I was 16, and was skinny as a post. My family was not wealthy but we weren't poor either. However, we hardly ever ate fast food because it was so expensive, and ate mostly home-cooked meals. I was skinny as a rail when I left there to come to the US.
Within 2 years of arriving in the US, I was undoubtedly chowing down on every fast food meal I could get my hands on. Not only was it cheap, but also very convenient. Imagine it is midnight, you get a craving. Guess what? Both Taco Bell and Wendy's are open at the same time. I even have a choice of what I could get. Yes I agree there is a lot of self-control in choosing what you eat, but this society also caters to unhealthy eating. Try shopping for healthy food at a grocery store and you will encounter two main problems; lack of selection and price. You'll walk out with less food and have paid twice as much. 'Junk food' so to speak you can buy in the package specials. Two for 99 cents or 5 for a dollar. What do you expect someone who is looking to pinch pennies to do? Fast food restaurants are the same. Dollar menus make it easy to build your own meal for a couple bucks. Free refills at the soda machine, with not one healthy choice, except maybe water. Obesity in the US is mostly a societal problem in my opinion, if I didn't already make that clear.

Edited: malexander on 8th May, 2006 - 11:20pm

Obesity Social Personal Problem

Name: Halis
Country:

Comments: I think it is a bit of both. Social problem because everything around us is about food and drink. Personal because you do need to have some sort of control. I guess some of us have better control than others.

Obesity Social Personal Problem Culture Family Travel & Consumer Reviews

Name: kilo
Country:

Comments: My personal opinion about obesity is that it is both a social and a personal problem. There are now a lot of devices like, recliners and video games and that the youngsters live in a relaxing environment, where they all rely on these technologies. Also, there are a lot of chicken and chips near the school, which will lead them to buy unhealthy foods after a hard day at work or school, where we have no time to cook healthy foods at home or to make time to exercise. In our society today, most of the chicken and chips and the other fast food restaurants in the area are pretty cheap for the students. And it would be easy for them to just drop by and buy it as it is near the school. In conclusion, I believe that Obesity is both social and a personal problem.