Obesity as a Disease: A National Epidemic

The Lamar University Electronic Journal of Studenteffective form of bariatric surgery (Buchwald et al.,
Research2004), from multiple perspectives might provide a
Fall 2008broader, more overarching picture of how surgery
 affects all of these perspectives. When an individual
Obesity as a Disease: A National Epidemicundergoes bariatric surgery, that individual experiences
Brigid A. Wilson, PhDAssistant Professormultiple lifestyle changes that need to be contended
Department of Health and Human Performancewith, because bariatric surgery is not an effortless,
Whitlowe R. Green College of Educationunproblematic miracle cure for obesity (Park Nicollet
Prairie View A&M UniversityClinic, 2005).
Member of the Texas A&M University System 
Prairie View, TexasPrejudice and the Obese
 Prejudice, a subjective attitude of a particular group
William Allan Kritsonis, PhDProfessor and Facultydeveloped from preconceived, irrational convictions of
Mentoranother’s supposed distinctions from the group
PhD Program in Educational Leadership(Mish, 1991), is so prevalent against overweight and
Hall of Honor (2008)obese individuals that it is not surprising that individuals
William H. Parker Leadership Academywill undertake major surgery and risk possible health
The Whitlowe R. Green College of Educationcomplications to lose excess weight (Farber, 2003).
Prairie View A&M University          
Member of the Texas A&M University System 
Prairie View, TexasWeightism or Fatism?
Visiting Lecturer (2005)A specific term was coined for this damaging attitude
Oxford Round Tabletowards the obese: weightism, also known as fatism
University of Oxford, Oxford, England(Winfield, 2002). Weightism refers to the detrimental
Distinguished Alumnus (2004)stereotypical beliefs many Americans possess
College of Education and Professional Studiestowards overweight individuals in virtually every aspect
Central Washington Universityof life (Crocker & Garcia, 2004). Weightism
 propagates the beliefs that obese individuals are
weak-willed, ugly, unmotivated, emotionally troubled,
ABSTRACTunclean, immoral, self-indulgent, and incompetent
The purpose of this article is to briefly discuss obesity(Schwartz & Brownell, 2004). Weightism in
as a disease and the prejudice associated with it.America is extremely common, as obese individuals
Obesity has accelerated at an alarming rate. Prejudiceexperience discrimination in almost all areas of life:
has developed from misguided assumptions. Theeducation, employment, social life, family relationships,
article deals with obesity as a disease and the possiblehousing, healthcare, public accommodations, and media
risks associate with it.  exposure (Wadden, Womble, et al., 2002). Wherever
the individual travels, be it work, a physician’s office,
Introductionor the grocery store, the obese individual encounters
Obesity’s incidence has expediently risen at suchweightism.
an alarming rate over the last 2 decades that the 
American government took legislative action in 2000 toWeightism is so prevalent and powerful that an obese
counteract the disease’s widespread detrimentalindividual’s sense of self may suffer permanent
consequences (Encinosa, Bernard, Steiner, &damage leading to the person’s sense of
Chen, 2005). In 2000, the Internal Revenue Servicewell-being becoming permanently impaired (Winfield,
declared that taxpayers could deduct the cost of2002). Obese individuals may possess a negative
weight-loss programs as medical expenses, includingsense of self due to their evaluation of self in relation
behavioral counseling, nutrition advisement,to societal beliefs and values, and therefore weightism
pharmacology, and surgery, if the expenses accountexhibited by others can have tremendously detrimental
for more than 7% of an individual’s adjusted grosspsychological affects for the obese individual. The
income (Internal Revenue Service, 2005). Subsequently,obese individual’s fragile sense of self becomes
the U.S. government officially declared obesity afurther weakened and, thus, weight often becomes an
disease in 2004 (Gruman, 2004). Obesity’sobsession for the obese individual. Weight may
classification as a disease was monumental because itdevelop into the only subject of concern, as other
mandated that insurance companies had to pay forpersonal attributes, like talent, wealth, and intelligence
obesity-related medical visits, prescriptions, andare discounted (Farber, 2003).
surgeries (Hartwig & Wilkinson, 2004). 
 Poor Body Image and Low Self-Esteem
 Mental health specialists consider weight infatuation
Purpose of the Articledetrimental, as it leads to poor body image and low
 self-esteem (Fox, Taylor, & Jones, 2000). Poor
The purpose of this article is to briefly discuss obesitybody image results from an obese individual’s
as a disease and the prejudice associated with it. Theperception of self not correlating with the “ideal”
article focuses on dealing with obesity as a diseaseAmerican body image (Schwartz & Brownell,
and the potential risks and prejudices that are2004). Low self-esteem occurs because individuals
associated with it. associated with it.focus on self-perceived negative characteristics
 (obesity) rather than positive attributes (Crocker &
 Park, 2004). Low self-esteem also occurs because
Governmental Actionsindividuals are unsuccessful in losing a self-specified
 desired amount of weight and, therefore, feel as
            The government’s actionsthough they are failures (Ginty, 2005).
have had a dramatic affect on the number of            Along with poor body image and
weight-loss treatments that Americans may choose tolow self-esteem, other documented psychological
utilize. For example, the number of bariatric surgicaleffects of weightism include diminished self-efficacy,
procedures performed in the United States increasedaugmented depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal
from 26,700 in 2000 (Waraksa & Vinson, 2004) to(Belluscio, 2005). Diminished self-efficacy occurs
over 140,000 in 2005, more than a five-fold increasebecause obese individuals lose confidence in their
(American Society for Bariatric Surgery, 2001) in just 5abilities (Bandura, 1997; Crocker & Garcia, 2004).
years. The increased popularity of bariatric proceduresSociety bombards obese individuals with negativity and
is not only attributed to insurance coverage, but also toreinforces an already present belief in low self-worth
positive media publicity surrounding celebrities who(Puhl & Brownell, 2003). Moreover, depression
have undergone the treatment (Johns Hopkinsoccurs when obese individuals feel defeated by
University, 2004), such as Al Roker, Carney Wilson,weightism because the prejudicial attitude affects both
Sharon Osborne, and Roseanne Barr. Furthermore,their personal and professional life (Rogge, Greenwald,
bariatric surgeries have become popular because they& Golden, 2004). These individuals are left feeling
appear to be a quick and effective method to losethat they cannot meet anyone’s standards,
weight, with the average person losing approximatelyincluding their own (Maranto & Stenoien, 2000).
30 to 40 pounds in the year following surgery (DukeSome obese individuals consider their disease as a
Medical Center, 2006).greater detriment than deafness, dyslexia, or blindness
 (Wadden, Womble, et al., 2002).
  
Popularity of Bariatric SurgeryConcluding Remarks
  
            Due to the rising popularity ofThe purpose of this article is to brief article was to
bariatric surgery, it is imperative that scholars study thediscuss obesity as a disease and the prejudice
surgical procedure from diverse perspectives. Theseassociated with it. Obesity has accelerated at an
perspectives include physiological, psychological, andalarming rate. Prejudice has developed from misguided
financial viewpoints. Examining Roux-en-Y Gastricassumptions.
Bypass surgery (RYGB), the most popular and