Abstract
This paper explores the obesity disease; as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the social impact it has on the citizens of the United States. Examination of the obesity epidemic from a social conflict perspective offers a look at how obesity is hindering the social advancement by the “ruling class”. This paper briefly explores the health risks of obesity and offers hypothetical solutions to lower the obesity trend.
THE PREDICAMENT OF OBESITY ON SOCIAL MOBILITY
In the United States, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS], 2012). The CDC defines obesity as an adult who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Medical practitioners define obesity as a medical condition when the excess body fat of an individual accumulates to the point where it could cause adverse effects on the individual’s health. In addition to the economic impact that the growing obesity epidemic has on the U.S., social problems at the individual level regarding size acceptance and discrimination are also prevalent. Applying the social conflict theory to analyze the current state of the obesity epidemic suggests that the increased rate of obesity maintains the current state of power and limits the social mobility of the afflicted. In an attempt to curb the growing rate of this disease, increased awareness of the causes through social education is a must. Obesity is a growing trend that limits perceptual power and must be eradicated through social education means.
An individual’s BMI is calculated based upon their current height and weight. Although much criticism is garnered because the BMI does not take into account lean muscle mass in the equation nor basal metabolic rate, the BMI is used because it correlates with amount of body fat in the average of the population (Romero-Corral et al., 2008).Numerous health risks are associated with obesity such as but not limited to: reduced life...