Obesity is one of the central issues in the United States affecting all human developmental phases. Adolescence is vulnerable and to some extent fragile period of an individual’s existence. Teenagers tend to exaggerate and set various priorities from those in adulthood. Obesity affects about 14.4 million children and teenagers altogether, which is 19.3% of the US population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Another significant issue is the human rights of obese adolescents. Teenagers may suffer from discrimination and may be treated differently according to their appearance. Human rights regulation should focus on reconsideration of appearance bias and the perception of obese people as a minority group. Additionally, the issue intersects with social justice aspects. It is essential to provide equal social rights to all individuals regarding their health issues or appearance. Obesity in adolescence significantly impacts a person’s future life and is one of the central social problems of the modern world. Providing better social services to obese teenagers can substantially enhance their future lives.
Adolescence is a vulnerable and fragile period of human development, and the social problems of teenagers can lead to other severe issues such as depression, anxiety, lack of confidence, and poor performance.
Obese adolescents were proven to be victims of psychopathologies involving depressive signs, hyperactivity disorder, low self-esteem, and stress (Sagar & Gupta, 2017). The emotional development of the teenager also suffers among individuals with high BMI as they more often become victims of discrimination, bullying, and social loneliness (Sagar & Gupta, 2017). Psychological and emotional aspects directly impact teenagers’ perception of self and the outer world. Youngsters tend to feel weak, minor and judged by others according to their appearance. Developing strategies to provide psychological help to obese adolescents can remind them of their human rights, strong sides, and individuality in general.
The lack of support from family members and specialties of upbringing lead to the prolongation of obesity among teenagers for further periods of life. A familial environment is known to be the one majorly influencing eating behavior and general food attitudes of children and adolescents (Carbert, Brussoni & Mâsse, 2019). The earlier the issue of obesity is faced with the help of the family environment, the smaller the chances of being obese in adulthood (Bagherniya et al., 2017). Obesity-related intervention programs involving parents can help enhance the eating disorders of their young members and the quality of their diet. Neglected issue of obesity leads to a variety of health disorders, low school, and work performance, and poor productivity. Explaining the importance of healthy eating and lifestyle, and educating the population at schools and colleges without pressing obese individuals and their discrimination, can help form the right orientation and behavioral strategy for society. Behavioral theory with family interventions can help enhance the issue of obesity among teenagers. Such a strategy is especially helpful in families with close interconnections between family members.
Considering human rights and principles of social justice for obese adolescents can help their self-esteem and vanish the feeling of being a minority group. Governmental policies and medical resources should aim to be equal for all teenagers with obesity seeking health aid (Craig et al., 2018). Impacting the social network of obese teenagers and its influence on their dietary preferences can help change the paradigm of adolescents’ lifestyles and reorient their habits (Smith, Zivitch & Frerichs, 2020). The law shapes the action in the community, and it must protect obese people from discrimination, and appearance “bias,” and regulate social norms. The law should also allow equal access to health care resources according to principles of social justice. From a social-ecological perspective, it is essential to spread the effects of a healthy lifestyle among adolescents to impact the social network of obese teenagers and the dietary favorites of the latter.
Thus, adolescence is one of the most crucial developmental phases of human life during which the issue of obesity must be solved. Social workers have to put special attention to teenagers as they tend to have unstable psychological and emotional conditions, prioritize social acceptance and popularity among peers, and are more vulnerable to bullying and discrimination. Social aid can focus on familial support and participation to create a proper environment for teenagers with high BMI. Considering the problem from the perspective of human rights, providing all obese adolescents equal access to health resources are essential aspects of social aid. Developing strategies protecting and helping teenagers with this social problem can enhance their future life, improve their self-esteem, and open new ongoing opportunities.
References
Bagherniya, M., Taghipour, A., Sharma, M., Sahebkar, A., Contento, I. R., Keshavarz, S. A., Darani, F. M., & Safarian, M. (2017). Obesity intervention programs among adolescents using social cognitive theory: A systematic literature review. Health Education Research, 33(1), 26–39. Web.
Carbert, N. S., Brussoni, M., Geller, J., & Mâsse, L. C. (2019). Moderating effects of family environment on overweight/obese adolescents’ dietary behaviours. Appetite, 134, 69–77. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Childhood obesity facts. Web.
Craig, H., le Roux, C., Keogh, F., & Finucane, F. M. (2018). How Ethical Is Our Current Delivery of Care to Patients with Severe and Complicated Obesity? Obesity Surgery, 28(7), 2078–2082. Web.
Sagar, R., & Gupta, T. (2017). Psychological aspects of obesity in children and adolescents. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 85(7), 554–559. Web.
Smith, N. R., Zivich, P. N., & Frerichs, L. (2020). Social influences on obesity: Current knowledge, emerging methods, and directions for future research and practice. Current Nutrition Reports, 9(1), 31–41. Web.