Obesity: A Sociological Epidemic

Abstract
The sociological aspect of obesity shown through the impact of families, the government and the economy. The rapidly growing, fast-paced, technological society creates an epidemic of sorts. Families pursue the use of technology, restaurants and fast-paced eating as well as single parenting and parental denial. The government sets a significant health care cost to obesity, which prevents a solution and increases risks. A non-stable economy brings about a society filled with unemployment or multiple jobs as well as both parents working to stay above absolute or relative poverty leading to distractions from a healthy lifestyle. Obesity is a concern, not just for an individual but also for
According to a study, conducted by Frederick J Zimmerman and Janice F. Bell, “Among all children, commercial viewing was significantly associated with higher BMI, although the effect was stronger for children younger than 7, the study found.”(Anderson, 2010) Having technology readily available, leads to weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle. Society has conformed to the use of technology. Researchers cite increases in food availability, portion size, and high-fat diets along with a decrease in physical activity in the U.S. population as important factors leading to increased rate of obesity (Hill 1998).
We have conformed to a drastic change in the way food is prepared and served. Today, when you walk in to a grocery store it is possible to buy fully prepared meals for every meal, every day of the week, when two decades ago this would not have been possible. We pay to be lazy, so we pay to risk obesity as well. Technology has taken over our society. “Technological change may lead to an expanding food supply, putting downward pressure on the price of food, which in turn stimulates consumption.” (Lakdawalla & Philipson, 2004) For things as simple as cutting grass, chopping food or grocery shopping we are using technology for. We now sit on a riding lawn mower, have automatic machines to chop our food and electric or gas grocery carts to drive around. “Social control refers to the systematic practices that social groups develop