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Fighting fat
In a society that stereotypes obesity as a symptom of sloth, overindulgence and a lack of self-control, sufferers are often left with feelings of social exclusion and isolation. Even more so in a relationship, the psychological implications of the 'fat stereotype' can be equally disruptive
In the UK, more than 50 per cent of women are now overweight with one in five being clinically obese. These statistics have tripled over the last 20 years and are still rising - by 2010 it is estimated that around one in four adults will suffer from obesity.
Obesity is associated with numerous health problems such as type II diabetes, heart disease and osteoarthritis. There is also a social stigma to obesity; people who suffer often find themselves stared at in the street or the victim of verbal and psychological abuse. The fear of ill health and the impact of social stereotyping not only affects the individual sufferer, but their partner too.
He was big too
Sarah was overweight herself when she met Jonathon. "I think I was initially attracted to him because he was big too, and I didn't feel so ashamed of myself," she says. "When we were in the street together, I knew people were staring more at him than they were at me, because he was bigger". The shame that Sarah describes is a common symptom of obesity and can cause emotional imbalance within a relationship, where one party feels more worthless than the other.
Obesity often leads to low self-esteem, a loss of dignity and emotional instability. When people are clinically obese, they usually suffer physical limitations too. This means that it is harder to feel motivated to exercise, and the simplest tasks can be physically exhausting and challenging.
Since the 1960s the population as a whole has become more sedentary with greater hours spent in front of the television, and an increasingly automated lifestyle. This lifestyle trend was highlighted to Sarah when she and Jonathon first moved in together. 'I tried to encourage him to get more exercise, but it seemed the bigger he got, the more lazy he became,' she explained. 'He would come in the door sweating from the stairs and then collapse in front of the television with a beer until bedtime.'
In the UK, more than 50 per cent of women are now overweight with one in five being clinically obese. These statistics have tripled over the last 20 years and are still rising - by 2010 it is estimated that around one in four adults will suffer from obesity.
Obesity is associated with numerous health problems such as type II diabetes, heart disease and osteoarthritis. There is also a social stigma to obesity; people who suffer often find themselves stared at in the street or the victim of verbal and psychological abuse. The fear of ill health and the impact of social stereotyping not only affects the individual sufferer, but their partner too.
He was big too
Sarah was overweight herself when she met Jonathon. "I think I was initially attracted to him because he was big too, and I didn't feel so ashamed of myself," she says. "When we were in the street together, I knew people were staring more at him than they were at me, because he was bigger". The shame that Sarah describes is a common symptom of obesity and can cause emotional imbalance within a relationship, where one party feels more worthless than the other.
Obesity often leads to low self-esteem, a loss of dignity and emotional instability. When people are clinically obese, they usually suffer physical limitations too. This means that it is harder to feel motivated to exercise, and the simplest tasks can be physically exhausting and challenging.
Since the 1960s the population as a whole has become more sedentary with greater hours spent in front of the television, and an increasingly automated lifestyle. This lifestyle trend was highlighted to Sarah when she and Jonathon first moved in together. 'I tried to encourage him to get more exercise, but it seemed the bigger he got, the more lazy he became,' she explained. 'He would come in the door sweating from the stairs and then collapse in front of the television with a beer until bedtime.'
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