- Title Pages
- Acknowledgements
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Prevalence and trends in childhood obesity
- Chapter 2 Prevalence and trends in adult obesity in affluent countries
- Chapter 3 Physical health consequences of child and adolescent obesity
- Chapter 4 Health consequences of overweight and obesity in adults
- Chapter 5 Psychosocial issues in obese children and adults
- Chapter 6 Health economic burden of obesity – an international perspective
- Chapter 7 The role of nutrition and physical activity in the obesity epidemic
- Chapter 8 The role of socio-cultural factors in the obesity epidemic
- Chapter 9 Evolving environmental factors in the obesity epidemic
- Chapter 10 The implications of the nutrition transition for obesity in the developing world
- Chapter 11 Population approaches to promote healthful eating behaviours
- Chapter 12 Population approaches to increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour among children and adults
- Chapter 13 Population approaches to obesity prevention
- Chapter 14 The role of surgical, pharmacological, and other treatment options
- Chapter 15 The cost-effectiveness of obesity prevention
- Chapter 16 Drawing possible lessons for obesity prevention and control from the tobacco-control experience<sup>1</sup>
- Chapter 17 The role of parents in preventing child overweight and obesity: An ecological approach
- Chapter 18 The potential for policy initiatives to address the obesity epidemic: A legal perspective from the United States
- Chapter 19 The potential of food regulation as a policy instrument for obesity prevention in developing countries
- Chapter 20 What role can urban planning and transportation policy play in the prevention of obesity?
- Chapter 21 Can fiscal approaches help to reduce obesity risk?
- Chapter 22 Social marketing approaches to obesity prevention
- Chapter 23 Community interventions and initiatives to prevent obesity
- Chapter 24 The food and beverage industry’s efforts regarding obesity prevention
- Chapter 25 The need for courageous action to prevent obesity
- Chapter 26 Conclusion: Obesity and its prevention in the 21st century
- Index
Psychosocial issues in obese children and adults
Psychosocial issues in obese children and adults
- Chapter:
- (p.59) Chapter 5 Psychosocial issues in obese children and adults
- Source:
- Obesity Epidemiology
- Author(s):
Andrew J. Hill
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Body weight affects people's perception of themselves and of others. Although attitudes to obesity are shaped by age, gender, and cultural background, the prevailing climate in the developed world is ‘anti-fat’. These negative attitudes lead to assumptions about the character and psychological state of obese people and are linked, in turn, to deeply held beliefs about responsibility and blame. This chapter summarizes evidence on the social and psychological circumstance of an increasing section of the population. What does it mean to grow up and live as a fat person in the world today? The following commentary is dominated by research from North America, Europe, and Australasia. Prevalent anti-fat attitudes in these regions contrast with the perceptions, values, and attitudes regarding fatness held by people in regions where poverty is common, food in short supply, and overweight a marker of affluence. Societies in socioeconomic transition are likely to have a mix of values reflecting traditional and new world views. In turn, their social and psychological responses will reflect this complexity.
Keywords: obesity, fat, obese, body image, self-perception, affluence
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- Title Pages
- Acknowledgements
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Prevalence and trends in childhood obesity
- Chapter 2 Prevalence and trends in adult obesity in affluent countries
- Chapter 3 Physical health consequences of child and adolescent obesity
- Chapter 4 Health consequences of overweight and obesity in adults
- Chapter 5 Psychosocial issues in obese children and adults
- Chapter 6 Health economic burden of obesity – an international perspective
- Chapter 7 The role of nutrition and physical activity in the obesity epidemic
- Chapter 8 The role of socio-cultural factors in the obesity epidemic
- Chapter 9 Evolving environmental factors in the obesity epidemic
- Chapter 10 The implications of the nutrition transition for obesity in the developing world
- Chapter 11 Population approaches to promote healthful eating behaviours
- Chapter 12 Population approaches to increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour among children and adults
- Chapter 13 Population approaches to obesity prevention
- Chapter 14 The role of surgical, pharmacological, and other treatment options
- Chapter 15 The cost-effectiveness of obesity prevention
- Chapter 16 Drawing possible lessons for obesity prevention and control from the tobacco-control experience<sup>1</sup>
- Chapter 17 The role of parents in preventing child overweight and obesity: An ecological approach
- Chapter 18 The potential for policy initiatives to address the obesity epidemic: A legal perspective from the United States
- Chapter 19 The potential of food regulation as a policy instrument for obesity prevention in developing countries
- Chapter 20 What role can urban planning and transportation policy play in the prevention of obesity?
- Chapter 21 Can fiscal approaches help to reduce obesity risk?
- Chapter 22 Social marketing approaches to obesity prevention
- Chapter 23 Community interventions and initiatives to prevent obesity
- Chapter 24 The food and beverage industry’s efforts regarding obesity prevention
- Chapter 25 The need for courageous action to prevent obesity
- Chapter 26 Conclusion: Obesity and its prevention in the 21st century
- Index