I believe that the developmental perspective might also explain why the number of obese citizens in the United States is so great. As a kid, I was always instructed to finish my plate in order to not waste food because "there are starving children in Africa" or so I could join the "Clean Plate Club." I was taught to eat as much as I could, whenever I could. As I grew older, I continued to eat past the point of feeling full. Growing up with such stress on eating as much as possible made me consider that food was a necessity and not an unlimited resource.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
The Biopsychosocial Approach to Obesity Analysis
1. Which approach do you think is more concrete?
Explain why.
I believe that the developmental perspective might also explain why the number of obese citizens in the United States is so great. As a kid, I was always instructed to finish my plate in order to not waste food because "there are starving children in Africa" or so I could join the "Clean Plate Club." I was taught to eat as much as I could, whenever I could. As I grew older, I continued to eat past the point of feeling full. Growing up with such stress on eating as much as possible made me consider that food was a necessity and not an unlimited resource.
I believe that the developmental perspective might also explain why the number of obese citizens in the United States is so great. As a kid, I was always instructed to finish my plate in order to not waste food because "there are starving children in Africa" or so I could join the "Clean Plate Club." I was taught to eat as much as I could, whenever I could. As I grew older, I continued to eat past the point of feeling full. Growing up with such stress on eating as much as possible made me consider that food was a necessity and not an unlimited resource.
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Nick, your thoughts on the developmental perspective seem very reasonable to me. I to, was often told "there are starving children in Africa". Mostly to get me to eat the foods I didn't enjoy as much, but it still set the habit to finish my plate. I find the "clean plate club" saying contradictory now, as we're told in health classes how we shouldn't always finish out plates because it usually too much food.
ReplyDeleteNick,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the social-cultural perspective on obesity is the most concrete because cultures shape to provide generosity and happiness. While I spent two weeks over summer in South Africa, the tour guide said we should try a little bit of everything to show respect to the host. Though I ate small pieces of several different animals by the end of each night, not every person had such the luxury. Not only does diet depend of how much we eat, it also depends on how often we eat high-caloric meals. Respect to the host/ hostess aside, people seem to lose track of how much and how frequent they eat, resulting in weight gain.
Nick, Expanding on the statistics given on obesity in America and France, I cannot help but believe that it is processed foods that are the cause for the predicted increase of obesity. In Europe, local markets are a lot more commonplace and it is where people buy the majority of their food. The positive effects natural food and natural ingredients have on our bodies is amazing. We are more energized, and become full after eating less. America needs to see that its ok to go back to the "old ways," sometimes faster isn't better
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ReplyDeleteNick, although i dont agree with perspectives i thoroughly support your use of statistics within your statements to further express your level of support for your argument. I feel that, although we are compared to France, we have very different ways of life and the U.S. just has the increased advertising, more fast food and less drive to be healthy than the french do not because of our biological makeups but because of our environment and culture that surrounds us daily.
ReplyDeleteNick,
ReplyDeleteI never really thought before about how social conventions dictate we serve food to guests. Every time I have friends over, my mom ensures a plethora of food options are available. I take it for granted, but cannot help but deduce that this behavior leads to rising obesity rates. I also vehemently agree that, as children, we were encouraged to eat past our limits. The result of that reinforcement can be seen in our current obesity epidemic.
Nick,
ReplyDeleteI also chose the socio-cultural perspective. If society turned our entire way of being 'good hosts' around, then maybe there would not be as many obese people. For example, usually holidays are the definition of endless amount of food. And over the years, food has become more important than the actual holiday itself. Instead, society should refocus these special days on spending valuable time with their family and friends-not the food.
Nick, I completely agree with both of your ideas regarding the social cultural as well as the developmental perspectives on obesity; I feel that the comparison to France really emphasized the cultural aspect to the trend of becoming obese. Another thing I have noticed is that even in countries such as Italy, where you consume enormous plates of pasta, obesity is not near as big an issue as here because they walk everywhere. We Americans, on the other hand, tend to consume large amounts of food and then lazily saunter to our cars, in which we drive ourselves to our next predicament.
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