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  • Essay / Fat acceptance vs. Weight Concern

    Long ago, fat was praised because it gave an advantage to humans who lived during the Ice Age. The fattest people could have a reserve of energy, which could mean life or death. A stone sculpture dating back to 25,000 BC was discovered which depicted an overweight and obese woman. Women with a lot of fat were sought after by men because their fat improved fertility. Nowadays, fat is looked down upon as undesirable and also carries many health risks. There is a misconception that all fat people are obese, as obesity affects 39.8% of the world's population and approximately 93.3 million adults in the United States during the years 2015-2016 (CDC). However, at the same time, a new movement is taking shape: that of fat acceptance. The movement grew so large that an organization emerged from it, known as the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. This movement aims to inspire people to accept their excess weight and help create a society in which people of all sizes are treated equally in all areas of life (NAAFA). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Fat acceptance and fat shaming are in opposing camps, and the public is divided between them. This essay will compare two articles that argue for different views on fat acceptance. Jane E. Brody wrote the first article and is a well-respected personal health reporter for The New York Times. She wrote an article titled “More Fitness, Less Fat.” In this article, Brody argues that fat acceptance leads people to adopt unhealthy eating habits and a poor exercise mentality. On the other hand, Rebecca M. Puhl, deputy director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut, published an article titled "Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health." Puhl argues that prejudice against fat people has multiple consequences for their psychological and physical health. Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and the fat acceptance movement is spreading rapidly in today's culture, and there is constant conflict between the two sides. The question that arises is whether fat should be accepted. Although Puhl and Brody agree that obesity is a problem, Puhl believes that accepting fat is more beneficial in helping obese people overcome their weight problems. According to Puhl, obese people are blamed for their weight "with the common perception that weight stigma is justifiable and can motivate individuals to adopt healthier behaviors." But Brody says accepting that they didn't cause obesity "will lead people to adopt unhealthy eating and exercise habits that lead to obesity, to the detriment of their overall health." Puhl doesn't want obese people to feel like their weight problems are their fault; However, Brody goes against Puhl's argument, describing that not blaming obese people for their weight will lead them to continue this lifestyle. Puhl wants people to know that such blaming of obese people will have a negative impact on them rather than a positive one. The constant shame and judgment they receive will “induce psychological distress” and this “stigma will increase vulnerability to poor psychological functioning.” One disorder Puhl describes is binge eating, which is due to stress produced by body image.Puhl's argument is based on the idea that making obese people feel bad will make the already present obesity problem worse. Brody counters Puhl's argument by saying that letting them accept their body image will only make things worse. Puhl says this "trend toward 'fat acceptance' bodes ill for future well-being and the soaring costs of weight-related chronic diseases like heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and more than a dozen types of cancer. She argues that letting them feel comfortable in their obese state will not help them become less obese. Brody says that not calling them out for their obesity won't help them be healthier as the average weight of humans increases, and it will lead them to believe their weight is normal. Puhl argues that not only does fat-shaming lead to an increase in obesity, but "weight discrimination was significantly associated with a current diagnosis of mood and anxiety disorders." Psychological distress causes personality disorders, which leads to an even worse lifestyle for an obese person. For Puhl, obesity has other solutions than making it known that obese people have a problem with themselves. This constant blaming is the problem, not the lifestyle that obese people live, according to Puhl. Puhl states that "obese patients report that they do not feel respected by providers, feel that they will not be taken seriously because of their weight, report that their weight is blamed for all their medical problems and are reluctant to discuss their weight issues with providers. .” Puhl wants people to see that society already has a negative view of obese people, so the blame will make them want to hide their lifestyle, making it difficult for medical professionals to make lifestyle changes. However, Brody suggests that because "individuals who do not believe they are overweight or who view obesity in a positive light are less likely to seek treatment to lose weight." She says that if their obesity is considered normal, they will get used to it and do nothing. In his argument, Brody states that Americans "seem to have adapted to a new weight normal," which is not good because the new weight is higher. Brody cites a study published in 2010 that "found that a growing proportion of overweight adults -- 21 percent of women and 46 percent of men (up from 14 percent and 41 percent respectively in the 1990s) - - consider their weight to be "about " " She explains that this so-called "normal" weight will continue to increase if obese people continue their current lifestyle. Puhl's main point on this argument is to help solve the problem of obesity without making obese people feel bad about themselves or like they're being judged Brody also wants to solve the problem of obesity, but she says not telling obese people they have a problem. will only make them gain even more weight. Puhl presents a study on the effects of pointing out a person's weight, describing how people who experience "weight-based teasing are more likely to engage in weight-based teasing." binge eating and unhealthy weight control behaviors compared to their overweight peers who were not teased, even after controlling for variables. such as BMI and socio-economic status. Puhl advocates for a response that does not involve judging obese people, so that these people do not have additional physical and psychological problems. But Brody doesn't see that there is a