HEALTH RISKS – THE EFFECT OBESITY HAS ON PEOPLE’S LIVES.

As mentioned earlier, I have found that obesity can have an effect on people’s health.  Children who are obese can suffer both physical and psychological health risks.   The physical effects can include:

• ·         trouble breathing, especially during sleep
• ·         diabetes
• ·         liver disease
• ·         high blood pressure and conditions contributed to heart disease
• ·         menstrual problems
• ·         bones, joints and muscle problems (“Stop our Children Developing Type 2 Diabetes,” n.d).

Obese children can also have psychological and psychiatric problems, they may experience social stigma where they are isolated, devalued and bullied by others.  This can have an effect on the development of social skills and relationships that children are attempting to build (“Stop our Children Developing Type 2 Diabetes,” n.d).

  commentarista.com

The health risks for obese adults can include diseases and conditions which can decrease quality of life and in the end death for some.  Psychological and social well-being is also at risk for adults. Generally, society believes that obese people are un-motivated lazy individuals who are weak and lack any kind of discipline (“Pyschological Effects of Obesity,” 2013)  Because of this view many job opportunities for obese people have been declined.  The employer may think that because the potential employee is obese, then he or she may not have the motivation and energy needed for the job. 

  thelermanreport.com

 

Many obese people become recluse, avoiding going out in public because of the ridicule they may get.  Even a small thing such as a disapproving sideways glance from someone can have a negative effect on someone who is obese.  Other reasons they may avoid public environments could be because they could find things such as fitting into a seat at the movies difficult.     

In time, these types of repeated experiences can bring on depression, anxiety and low self-esteem (“Pyschological Effects of Obesity,” 2013).

References

Psychological effects of obesity. (2013). Retrieved from http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu/surgical-weight-loss/obesity/psychological-effects-obesity

Stop our children developing type 2 diabetes. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://foe.org.nz/obesity-the-facts/health-risks/