Being obese, when this qualification is the consequence of a scientific evaluation and not the result of a visual impression subjected to norms and fashions, is a disease. Obesity is a disease of increasing prevalence in developed societies; in fact, statistics show that 53% of the adult Spanish population is overweight, 36% overweight and 17% obese, a prevalence that has increased “at an alarming rate” throughout the world, but which has stabilized in Spain in recent years. In the case of children, 12% are overweight and 14% obese.
Understanding obesity
In view of this situation, the social interest in obesity is obvious, leading to numerous scientific studies, health investments, information and dissemination articles on its existence, prevention, treatment and possible consequences. But understanding obesity requires going beyond objective data and knowledge and placing oneself in the place of the obese patient and all those of us who are at high risk of becoming obese.
In the obese patient there are aspects that are not found in other pathologies; in most cases, his disease creates a feeling of guilt that increases the difficulty of bearing his condition since, in addition to the symptoms, limitations and physical fears, he feels relegated, discriminated and in inferior conditions to achieve what with another body would be easier: social consideration, success, rights, recognition… The society that on the one hand helps them by investing work, effort and money, on the other hand punishes them and makes their situation more difficult and hinders their recovery and, furthermore, leads its individuals to this circumstance. This is the social paradox that we believe to be of interest for your reflection: the interest in healing while forgetting the important role of prevention.
The effect of society, as a source of influence, teaching and direction towards its individuals is great. Creating habits in children and young people is a very serious matter because what is learned and incorporated at these ages lasts and it is very difficult to eradicate or change it in later years (those of us who have quit smoking know this well and, in this case, one could compare what tobacco was for young people in the 60s with what for children and young people in 2018 are highly caloric foods).
The usual activities we perform are accompanied by a caloric intake, unnecessary and additional to the planned food consumption as a source of nutrients. Talking with friends is accompanied by lunch, dinner or a beer, watching a movie is complemented with a packet of popcorn, a soft drink or curious and complex products that tempt at least for their novelty (nachos, ice cream, chocolate, candy) accompanied by succulent sauces and dressings, without suspecting that this snack can be the energy intake of a plate of pasta; the vending machines we use to take a break from work offer us delicious pastries, cookies, snacks, which under the healthy slogans of “cholesterol-free product” or “made with vegetable oil” or “light” contribute, like grains of sand, to the fact that at the end of the day we have provided our body with more energy than it needs. And, with this panorama, we want and demand from ourselves at the same time, to be able to present a “10” body image, referring to canons that sometimes cannot be achieved without resorting to surgery and of a complexion that can show off a size 38 independent of age and without considering the genetic factor of each one of us.
Commitment to obesity
Being aware as we are of this serious situation in which we are entering, we must commit ourselves, individually and collectively, from all levels of society in an attitude and policy of promotion of habits, products and fashion to avoid falling into this disease, and help the patient who presents it to overcome it without demanding a self-marginalization or a heroic attitude. It is in everyone’s interest and responsibility.