Soc 1000 - Obesity in America

Assignment 3: Obesity in America

Tracy L. Barger

SOC100 – Introduction to Sociology

Professor: Terry Lunsford

Strayer University

March 2, 2017

     As a young child, the word obese was not in my vocabulary, there simply had been family or friends who were “fat”. As I got older, and learned throughout my elementary, junior high and high school years that the word “fat “had been the word taught to me to describe those who were obese, an unfitting and unflattering word used by my immature self. Being educated over the years on the causes of obesity, helped me better understand those close to me who were obese and how I could avoid some of the factors that lead to obesity.

     Being better educated through regular doctor visits and health classes helped me understand the consequences when it came to my Grandmother, who all my life had been obese and had battled diabetes. It helped me be more compassionate about the difficulties, and strain she had to deal with due to her health and her weight. Most of my grandmother’s weight issues stemmed from bad eating habits, growing up in South Georgia the culture on which our food is based, at least for our family meant three meals a day that consisted of fatty, greasy food most of which was fresh but made unhealthy in the preparation. My grandmother eventually succumbed to her medical issues, and as I stepped out on my own my approach to eating and food preparation became the polar opposite of my family. I stepped away from those traditional food choices that were the cause of the obesity issues of my family and friends, and learned to make smart food choices, to cook healthier meals and to keep living an active lifestyle.

     Out of the many contributing factors that lead to childhood obesity, I think the lack of physical activity is a factor with the most risk. In an age of technology, more and more children spend their time in front of a computer monitor or television. Gone are the days of playing outside until sundown, or neighborhood football games in the empty lot.

     There are two preventative measures that I would recommend to reduce their chance of becoming obese. The first recommendation would be the adaption of a healthy lifestyle. Parents should develop healthy routines with their children, with a focus on physical activity and setting limits to idle time spent playing video games or hanging out on social media. Parents should lead by example, by participating along with their children in physical activities or supporting their child in physical activity.  According to the NIH website, by adapting healthy lifestyle change such as routine physical activity you can reduce your risk of heart disease factors such as bad LDL cholesterol levels and lower you risk of type 2 diabetes.