Impact- Mental-

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Mental

Obviously, being obese is harmful to ones' physical health.  What is just as harmful, is the effect of obesity on ones' mental health.  Much has been done to promote acceptance of ALL kinds of people.  As much as we'd like to deny it, the stigma of being overweight continues to exist.  Our schools discourage rude remarks, yet attitudes and hurtful remarks persist.  Because of these attitudes, overweight and obese teens:
  • Are twice as likely to commit suicide ("Obese teens.")
  • (Girls 13-14) are four times more likely to have lowered self esteem
  • Have increased rates of loneliness, sadness and nervousness
  • Are depressed- as many as 750,000 (Levey, Amy.)
  • Perceive themselves as physically unattractive
  • Believe that others make disparaging comments about their weight
  • Dislike being seen in public
  • Feel discrimination when applying for jobs
  • Feel that they are treated disrespectfully by their physician
  • Have a harder time making friends ("Psychosocial Effects. ")
 In a famous social study, kids between 6-13 were shown pictures of other kids and asked to rank who they'd pick for a friend, based only on the picture.  What was different about each picture follows.  One child-
  • Had no visible handicap
  • Had a brace on one leg and used crutches
  • Was sitting in a wheelchair with a blanket over both legs
  • Was missing the left hand
  • Had facial disfigurement on the left side of the mouth
  • Was simply obese-no physical handicap
 When given a choice of who would make the best friend out of 6 different pictures- obese children were chosen last 75% of the time, and 2nd to last 83% of the time. (Richardson, Stephen.)     

 

 

 

 

Levey, Amy. "Obesity can be harmful to your child's mental health." Eureka Alert. 1 Oct. 2003. 7 Apr. 2007 < http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-10/apa-ocb100103.php>.

"Obese teens more likely to die young: study." Peoples Daily Online. 19 Jul. 2006. 3 Apr. 2007 < http://english.people.com.cn/200607/19/eng20060719_284573.html>.

"Psychosocial Effects of Morbid Obesity." New York Medical Center. 11 Apr. 2007 <http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu/obesity/effects.html>.Richardson, Stephen.

"Children's Values and Friendships: A Study of Physical Disability." Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 12 Sep. 1971. 31 Mar. 2007.

 

Watts, Karen. “My Dispair Poster.” Art Files. 2006. 23 May, 2007 http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Karen-Watts/My-Despair-Poster-C12180059.jpeg.

 

 

 

 

 

“Bullying.” Tqe.Siu.Edu. 23 May, 2007 < http://tqe.siu.edu/Bullying%20Module/ graphics/bullying2%20copy.gif >.