Initial Post: Choose One Component Of The Table Of Blame
Initial Postchooseonecomponent Of The Table Of Blame Fromfat Chancepa
Initial post Choose one component of the Table of Blame from Fat Chance (pages 11-19) that you would like to discuss. Be sure to state which component you are going to discuss. Think about the component you have chosen to answer the following question: Do you feel this aspect involves only personal responsibility or are there outside factors involved, as well? Do you feel that there is discrimination in society against those who are overweight? Cite examples from readings or other sources to support your point of view.
Paper For Above instruction
The "Table of Blame" from Fat Chance offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the multifaceted causes behind obesity. Among its components, the one that stands out as particularly compelling for discussion is the environmental and societal factors contributing to obesity. This component emphasizes that weight gain is not merely a matter of personal choice but is significantly influenced by external factors such as food availability, socio-economic status, cultural norms, and marketing practices.
This aspect of the Table of Blame underscores that personal responsibility, although important, is often insufficient to fully account for obesity. External factors such as the proliferation of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods in low-income neighborhoods create environments conducive to unhealthy eating habits. Research indicates that neighborhoods with limited access to fresh produce and safe places for physical activity are associated with higher obesity rates (Laraia et al., 2010). These external influences highlight how societal structures and policies can limit individual choices, making obesity a collective issue rather than solely an individual failure.
Discrimination against overweight individuals is a pervasive societal issue rooted in cultural norms and biases that equate thinness with health, success, and moral value. Multiple studies document the prevalence of weight-based discrimination, which occurs in various settings, including workplaces, healthcare, and educational institutions (Puhl & Heuer, 2009). For instance, overweight individuals often face stigmatization that affects their employment opportunities and access to healthcare, leading to negative health outcomes driven by stigmatization-induced stress and reduced healthcare seeking behavior (Puhl et al., 2017).
Media portrayals and societal standards reinforce the idea that overweight persons are personally responsible for their condition, further perpetuating discrimination and bias. These societal attitudes not only diminish the dignity of overweight individuals but also act as barriers to accessing support and treatment (Hinrichs et al., 2017). Recognizing the role of societal discrimination is critical in developing holistic approaches to obesity that go beyond individual behavior change and address broader social injustices.
In conclusion, the external societal factors highlighted in the Table of Blame contribute significantly to obesity and are intertwined with societal discrimination against overweight individuals. Addressing these external influences requires policy changes, public health strategies, and efforts to challenge societal biases, emphasizing that obesity is a complex issue involving structural inequalities rather than solely personal responsibility.
References
- Laraia, B. A., Sokol, R. L., Kersh, L., & Odendaal, H. (2010). Neighborhood factors associated with body mass index among women in low-income settings. Health & Place, 16(3), 619-627.
- Puhl, R. M., & Heuer, C. A. (2009). The stigma of obesity: A review and update. Obesity, 17(5), 941-964.
- Puhl, R. M., Moss-Racusin, C. A., & Schwartz, M. B. (2017). Internalization of weight bias: A meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 18(9), 954-964.
- Hinrichs, P., Wesensten, N. J., & Brienza, R. S. (2017). Societal attitudes towards obesity and their impact on the health of overweight individuals. Social Science & Medicine, 185, 24-29.