Weight Loss Information |
Prejudice and Obesity - Have You Been a Victim?
It's a sad comment on human nature that prejudice and obesity go hand in hand. Ask any person who has battled with obesity and they'll be able to reel off a list of examples. It begins at school, where some children have a knack of singling out anyone who's different from the rest for bullying and taunting. Children who are more overweight than their classmates are easy targets. If they also happen to be of a different ethnic background from the majority of their classmates, their lives can become especially unpleasant. Sadly, this attitude does not end when the child leaves school. Research has shown that prejudice and obesity is very much a fact of life in the workplace. --The Sad Story of Mr X-- In a society obsessed with unrealistic ideals of how we should look, overweight job applicants have an especially tough time breaking into the job market. A typical story of prejudice and obesity in the workplace goes like this... Mr X applies in writing for a job. The company replies positively to his letter by asking for a more detailed resume. Then, Mr X receives an enthusiastic phone call asking him to come in for an interview. It's clear from the tone of the call and various other hints dropped by the caller that the interview is really just a formality, that Mr X is clearly the best qualified candidate. But all this changes come the day of the interview. The members of the interview panel refuse to meet Mr X's eye. The questions they ask are cursory. They shuffle and fidget when he speaks. It's obvious they're simply going through the motions. When he leaves they shake his hand and thank him with enthusiasm bordering on relief. A week later he receives a form letter in the mail regretfully informing him that he was unsuccessful in his application. Mr X is not surprised. He's gone through this charade a dozen times before. Prejudice and obesity have an even more unpleasant face when they're paired with ethnic stereotypes - the grown up version of schoolyard taunts. We've all heard the jokes about women of certain ethnic backgrounds ballooning after they've had children. They're mild compared to some of the other, supposedly funny, stories doing the rounds. You can help to lift the lid on the scourge of obesity related prejudice. Were you bullied as a child because you were overweight? Have you experienced prejudice in the workplace? Have you been the butt of an ethnic/obesity related joke? Or perhaps you've got an inspiring story about how you've overcome negative perceptions. Maybe you're a counsellor or website publisher with important insights. Visit http://www.obesitycures.com/prejudice-and-obesity.html and share your experience or advice. You could make a difference. Alan Cooper is a journalist with 20 year's experience and the publisher of ObesityCures.com, a site with the ambitious aim of being a "one-stop-shop" for impartial information on obesity and weight loss solutions - including fad diets, prescription weightloss pills and natural weightloss aids.
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
The Secret of Weight Loss In the medical community, "obesity" is generally said to be present in women with more than 30% body fat and men with more than 25% body fat. "Morbid obesity," a more serious condition still, occurs when a person is 50-100% or 100 pounds above his or her ideal body weight or has more than 39% body fat. Does It Matter If You Are Overweight? Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated with pictures, images, icons and inferences of the 'perfect' female shape! The truth is that many of these images are altered or enhanced in some way and do not depict the typical female form. The pressure to lose weight is immense when we are bombarded every day with media selling products based on slimness, sex appeal and fashion. QuickTips for Healthy Weight Loss More than any other time in history, people are all vying to have the best, healthiest body. The health and fitness industries are making billions of dollars every year on herbal supplements , fitness equipment, gyms, and special diets. To Be or Not To Be: Low Carb... I get asked all the time, "what do you think about the Atkin's Diet?". Well, as a Nutritional Bio-Chemist, my opinion and answer to that question would have to be a biochemical response. Breaking Research: Whats a Dieter To Do? Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight loss or nutrition is released to the public. These studies tout the latest and greatest trends, products or discoveries and then a willing public jumps on the bandwagon expecting mighty results. Weight Loss - A Complex Issue - Learn More Please feel free to comment, to provide good information and feedbackDid you know: As of 2003, the World Health Organization estimated one billion are overweightOver 40 million Americans are overweight(World Health Organisation), 64% of Americans are overweight (NHANES)Americans are spending 33 billion dollars a year on weight loss programs, foods and supplements aids (Medical and healthcare guide 1997)Increased weight is associated with a variety of health conditions from heart to joints, to immune function.Fad Diets:Low Carbohydrate/High Protein Diets:* increased risk of several diseases. How To Avoid Gaining the Holiday 7 As the holidays approach, a frequent question from my clients and subscribers is "How can I avoid gaining weight during the holidays"? Their concern is legitimate. The average American adult gains seven pounds of fat between Thanksgiving and New Years Day. Malnutrition Causes Obesity Axiom Number One - Nourish your body.Probably the most important and least understood axiom ofsuccessful weight loss is that you have to nourish your body. Hypnosis, Weight Control, and The Thought That Wont Go Away You've decided it's time to lose some weight. A lot or a little, it doesn't really matter. Exercise: Essential The only absolute truth in the area of exercise and weight loss is this: Becoming more physically active will burn calories, and as long as you don't absorb those calories back by eating more, you will lose weight. Getting active and getting your muscles to burn more calories is an essential part of a weight management program. Fitness through Exercise for Life - Principles that Keep You Going for Life! ATTITUDESIT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!Exercising has so many physical benefits that most of uscan relate to, but what about the emotional andpsychological benefits it brings? Physical fitness, Ibelieve, touches far more than just our arms, arteries andwaistlines. It touches our very soul. How to Burn Fat: Doctors Proven Weight Loss Secret #1 Let me ask you a personal question. As you read these words, right now-- are you burning fat?If you don't know the answer, you need to know about a simple, inexpensive way to make sure. Tips For Successful Weight Loss Throughout my childhood and teenage years I watched as my mother tried every fad diet under the sun. I recall one time she ate boiled cabbage and nothing else for a whole week. How to Eat Out and Lose Weight Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and now want healthy choices whether eating at home or at their favorite restaurants. Luckily, the restaurant industry has been quick to accommodate the demand, so you'll find you have many options to "eat healthy" these days. The Rumbly-Grumbly Tummy After Gastric Bypass If you've been enjoying life after gastric bypass surgery you will know exactly what I'm talking about. That rumbly-tumbly stomach growl that's more bark than bite. How to Lose Belly Fat: Latest Secrets from the Research Labs, Part 2 Abdominal fat is now seen as a growing health hazard, an indicator and contributor to "Syndrome X," or metabolic syndrome. The risks of metabolic syndrome go far beyond a bulge at your waistline, and include heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The Fail-Safe Weight Loss Formula Yes Virginia, the fail-safe weight loss formula exists.It's so simple, we overlook it. Super Sizing: Money Shrinks While Waist Lines Grow "Your Eyes are Bigger Than Your Stomach""Your eyes are bigger than your stomach," my mother said, which meant, "No, you can't have a milk shake." She didn't think my 10-year old appetite was sufficient to finish all that food, and she was probably right. Acupuncture Weight Loss? Plus 5 Step Weight Loss Plan I remember back in my senior year of high school - my best friend since 5th grade was living in France. He wrote that they didn't like Americans much. 3 Easy Dieting Success Tips 1. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each dayOkay, for many people this is a big problem. |
home | site map | contact us |