During Most of His Childhood, George Was a Bit on the Pudgy

question 24

Essay

During most of his childhood, George was a bit on the pudgy side, but with the onset of puberty, he became categorically fat. Dieting did not seem to help, although George freely admitted that he was not very interested in dieting because eating was one of the things he truly enjoyed. He did not enjoy sports or other forms of exercise that left him out of breath, nor did he truly enjoy telling "fat" jokes about himself and making people laugh, although his classmates at least seemed to like him for that. (a) From the text discussion of obesity, what factors might be involved in George's weight problem? (b) What self-fulfilling prophecies might be operating in George's case? What advice could we give him and his parents on helping him lose weight?

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Definitions:

Medicalization

The process by which human conditions and problems come to be defined and treated as medical issues.

Demedicalization

The process by which a health condition or behavior is no longer classified as a medical disorder requiring treatment, often reflecting changes in social attitudes.

National Health System

A publicly funded healthcare system in which the government provides essential healthcare services to residents, often funded through taxation.

National Health Insurance

A government-sponsored insurance scheme intended to provide health coverage to citizens, typically funded through taxes.