Has childhood obesity in Britain been socially constructed?

... Contents Introduction page 2 Argument page 4 Conclusion page 9 Bibliography page 10 Introduction Has childhood obesity in Britain been socially constructed? Increasing rates of obesity appear to be common to the process of industrialisation and have been linked with many factors, including a more sedentary lifestyle and diets high in fat and sugars and an abundance of food. (Gordon, Richard, 2000) The number of children suffering from obesity has increased dramatically since the mid 1980's in the UK. However this is not just a UK problem but also a global issue. Results in America have shown that the numbers with obesity have doubled since 1980. (Brown, Liz, 2001) Obesity is defined as "An abnormal accumulation of body fat usually 20% or more over an individuals ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with the increased risk of illness, disability, and death."(Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine online) Although there is not one definitive method of calculating obesity, one method calculates body

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