Eating Habits Essay

1352 Words3 Pages

One health-related topic that receives considerable attention concerns eating habits and the development of obesity. Biological, environmental, social, and psychological factors that influence eating are typically an aspect that is assessed with the discussion of obesity concerns in the United States (U.S.). Obesity is widespread and remains a prominent health issue in the U.S.. One of the ways overweight and obesity is defined entails the operation of the body mass index (BMI) of an individual. This study consists of how these factors have a direct correlation leading to obesity in many individuals nation-wide. The method I intend to utilize for this study involves the oral administration of a survey and the calculation of the subject’s individual BMI by a third party licensed clinician in order to maintain the rapport of the clinician and his/her patients. The participants of this survey will include a sample of the entire population of patients who are currently seeking further help for obesity. Each subject will be interviewed by their clinician by being asked a series of questions listed in the protocol of the survey. According to an elaborate study based on casual observation, there appears to be an association with stomach tightening and the presence of hunger; therefore, leading Walter Cannon to believe that stomach tightening is the source of hunger (Cannon & Washburn, 1912). Cultural differences in attitudes about being overweight appear to be related to attitudes toward eating behaviors. Eating habits are one of the most fundamental activities, basic to survival. I intend to use this study as a basis for the progression of further knowledge in order to educate uninformed individuals of the specific factors leading up... ... middle of paper ... ...c dieters. Several theories propose that the negative emotions induced by stress are the emotions that encourage additional eating. When this occurs, some people turn to eating tasty foods with the expectation of having the enjoyable foods to make them feel better (Tice, Bratslavsky, & Baumeister, 2001). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2000) found that among women of all ethnicities, there appears to be a direct correlation in income gradient in overweight prevalence. Within this finding, the overweight prevalence for poor women seems 1.4 times higher than women within the middle class incomes and 1.6 times higher than women with high incomes. However, little evidence has been found relating income gradients and the prevalence of being overweight amongst men.

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