obesity
- linked to many chronic diseases
- it is not the fault of the individual person (lifestyle factors come into play but so do biological ones)
BMI
indicator of weight status using height and weight status (7 categories; underweight, normal range, over weight, pre-obese, obese 1, obese 2, obese 3)
Is BMI the best measure?
- NO
- it is self reported and doest discern whether it is fat or muscle but it is cost effective
how does the media portray people with obesity?
- don’t take care of themselves
- lazy
- excessive food portions
- dehumanizing
“Perfect at any size” images
- counteractive stereotypical images of overweight people to show that they are more than their weight
Video: weight of the nation-stigma-the human cost of obesity
- 2/3 of Americans are obese
- not just a problem with health its a problem with how the society treats obese people
- Work place: 12x more likely if you’re obese: males make 3% less and females make 6% less
- 72% of the media portrays them negatively
- gender bias: harder for girls bc there is an image they are suppose to conform to
- obese people are susceptible to suicide and negative thought patterns
how to help the obese problem
- support instead of shaming
- dress the situation without bias
- educate about obesity
- effects everyone
- zero tolerance for body shaming
When should we adopt healthy behaviours and what are weight problems related to?
- start adopting in early c childhood for long term weight management (important for everyone)
- weight problems can be related to lifestyle factors
Meta- analysis on the freshman 15 - what were the results?
- weight gain is faster and goes along with other health issures
- 60.9% of students gain weight during their first year of uni - average weight gain is 7.5lbs
what is the relationship between SE and weight problems?
- lower SE and negative emotions go along with weight problems
arrival fallacy
- when you arrive at a certain destination you’ll be happy
fallacy bc even if you get there you won’t be happy) appreciate yourself in this moment (mindfulness
Positive and negative coping strategies
Negative: food turns negative when it becomes a problem
Positive: communication skills, manage interpersonal conflict, create and maintain healthy relationships, using food appropriately and sleeping
relationship trends between body image and self concept
- +ve body image = contributes in overall wellness and psychological wellness
- -ve body image participates in FAD dieting which don’t work
- stop obsessing over their body’s behaviours will normalizer and settle in the right state for what is good for us
Body image stats?
- media tells us we should conform to the ideal body
- average actress and model is 95% thinner of female population and weighs 23% less than average woman
real truth about beauty stats
- 4% describe themselves as beautiful
- 11% of girls are comfortable using the word beautiful to describe themselves
- 72% of girls feel a lot of pressure to be beautiful
reflected appraisal
females attach more importance to how other people perceive them more importance to physical appearance
social comparison
- subconsciously we award points to ourselves on what we prescience as being the norm and deduct points on where we are different
what is the concept that is consistent with both the stress video and why thinking you’re ugly is bad for you?
- you’re belief in perception (stress beliefs and your perception about yourself) both have direct links to your health - need to challenge our own belief on stress and perception
Video: why thinking you’re ugly is bad for you - Meghan Ramsey
- 10,000 people google if they are ugly every month
- living in an image obsessed culture
- 31% (1/3) fail to engage in the classroom
- 6/10 girls don’t participate in fundamental activities
- 17% of women don’t show up to job interviews if they don’t feel confident
- negative trends in media impact both males and females
How to fix this:
1. Educate bidy confidence
2. be better role models
3. work together
body image and acceptance
- body weight/shape are influenced by genetics and the environment that we grow up in
engage in healthy behaviours + maintain to the best of our ability = realistic appropriate levels that will fit our body
