The Social Constructionism of Obesity 
The Social Construction of Obesity
Samantha Epstein
841281
Sociology of Health and Illness
Swansea University
Social constructionism is a sociological theory associated with the ways in which people think about and use categories to structure experiences and analysis of the world. It is somewhat of a psychological phenomenon, the way social ideas and categories are socially constructed and then accepted as reality, despite the facts or undiscovered truths (Kwan). Social scientists have long conveyed how social issues are not necessarily rooted in objective reality. Instead, many institutions and organizations make claims in attempt to define the meaning of social phenomena, influencing how these concepts are perceived and handled. Health and illness are two concepts that people struggle to define and are influenced by the social and cultural context in which they reside (Kwan). In contrast to the medical model, which assumes that diseases are universal and invariant to time or place, social constructionists emphasize how the meaning and experience of illness is shaped by cultural and social systems (Conrad). Obesity is one example of a complex health problem that can be better understood by applying the methodology involved in social constructionism (Aston, et al). Over the past century, there has been a tremendous amount of growing research aimed towards defining “fat,” what it means to be “fat,” and why and how it matters (Paradis, et al). Obesity, and the strategies involved in dealing with obesity, are inextricably linked to values, beliefs and practices that have been socially constructed by individuals, society and institutions (Aston, et al). In this paper I will explain how obesity is a socially constructed concept by examining the medias contradictory portrayal of obesity, the changing definition of obesity throughout history, and the values associated with obesity across cultures. It is often the case that powerful interest groups
Samantha Epstein
841281
Sociology of Health and Illness
Swansea University
Social constructionism is a sociological theory associated with the ways in which people think about and use categories to structure experiences and analysis of the world. It is somewhat of a psychological phenomenon, the way social ideas and categories are socially constructed and then accepted as reality, despite the facts or undiscovered truths (Kwan). Social scientists have long conveyed how social issues are not necessarily rooted in objective reality. Instead, many institutions and organizations make claims in attempt to define the meaning of social phenomena, influencing how these concepts are perceived and handled. Health and illness are two concepts that people struggle to define and are influenced by the social and cultural context in which they reside (Kwan). In contrast to the medical model, which assumes that diseases are universal and invariant to time or place, social constructionists emphasize how the meaning and experience of illness is shaped by cultural and social systems (Conrad). Obesity is one example of a complex health problem that can be better understood by applying the methodology involved in social constructionism (Aston, et al). Over the past century, there has been a tremendous amount of growing research aimed towards defining “fat,” what it means to be “fat,” and why and how it matters (Paradis, et al). Obesity, and the strategies involved in dealing with obesity, are inextricably linked to values, beliefs and practices that have been socially constructed by individuals, society and institutions (Aston, et al). In this paper I will explain how obesity is a socially constructed concept by examining the medias contradictory portrayal of obesity, the changing definition of obesity throughout history, and the values associated with obesity across cultures. It is often the case that powerful interest groups
Bibliography: Aston, M., Price, S., Kirk, S., & Penney, T. (2011). More than meets the eye. Feminist poststructuralism as a lens towards understanding obesity. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1187-1194. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05866.x Conrad, P., & Barker, K. (2010). The Social Construction of Illness: Key Insights and Policy Implications. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. doi:10.1177/0022146510383495 Cultural approach may hold the key to tackling obesity. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2015, from http://www.eufic.org/page/en/show/latest-science-news/fftid/cultural-approach-obesity/ Kirk, David. "The Social Construction of the Body in Physical Education." Social Construction of the body in Physical Education (2002): 80-91. Research Gate. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.researchgate.net/publication/43501521_The_Social_Construction_of_the_Body_in_Physical_Education_and_Sport>. Kwan et al. Framing the Fat Body: Contested Meanings between Government, Activists, and Industry. Sociological Inquiry, 2009; 79 (1): 25 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-682X.2008.00271.x Patterson, M., & Johnston, J. (2012). Theorizing the obesity epidemic: Health crisis, moral panic and emerging hybrids. Social Theory & Health, 10(3), 265-291. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/sth.2012.4 Paradis, E., & Ramirez, F. (2011). Changing meanings of fat fat, obesity, epidemics, and America 's children. Sobal, J. (1999). 6- Ideal weight/ Ideal women. In Weighty issues: Fatness and thinness as social problems. Hawthorne, N.Y.: Aldine de Gruyter. (Weighty issues)