Technology & Social Media’s Influence on Obesity

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I. Historical Development Obesity is not a new notion or phenomenon in history. Centuries ago some cultures and societies saw obesity as the most noteworthy platform for wealth, social status, and sexual appeal. The influential Greek physician Hippocrates was among the first to record the negative effects of excessive weight and poor diet on the human body. While advancements in medicine and public health have helped improve life expectancy, obesity is becoming a silent yet visible threat to these milestones especially with the influence of technological innovation on the day-to-day of humans. The invasion of technology has long been assumed to contribute to the large number of Americans who are considered overweight and do not get an adequate amount of daily physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of Americans who can be classified as obese. More than one-third of adults in the United States and approximately 17% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are considered obese ("Obesity and Overweight," 2012). However, the number of unhealthy Americans is not the only thing rising. Online communication has skyrocketed ever since beginning of chat rooms and social media powerhouses such as Facebook. More and more public health advocates and agencies are utilizing social media as a way to communicate healthy living tips and prevention advice. In addition to these types of online communication, the market for downloadable applications has become a phenomenon. Consumers can now download free and priced health and wellness applications onto the smartphones or tablets that will record their calorie consumption, display the calo... ... middle of paper ... ...e Approach to a Growing Problem. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Haslam, D. (2007). Obesity: a medical history. Obesity Reviews, 8, 31-36. Hawn, C. (2009). Take Two Aspirin And Tweet Me In The Morning: How Twitter, Facebook, And Other Social Media Are Reshaping Health Care. Health Affairs, 28, :361-368. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.361 Metcalf, T., & Metcalf, G. (Eds.). (2008). Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders: Obesity. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Cengage Learning "Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: Facts." (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/facts.html Modern Technology Adds to Worldwide Obesity Woes: Report. (2012) Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/08/23/modern-technology-adds-to-worldwide-obesity-woes-report

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