Obesity social problems

The psychological and social problems of the obese spill over to people of normal weight as well. There is continual advertising pressure for slimness , and newspapers and magazines are full of propaganda for slimness and diets for weight reduction. This may be one of the factors in the development of major eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia (section 8.3.1.1). 

In addition to diabetes, there are many health risks associated with obesity, ranging from metabolic disturbances such as hyperlipidemia, insuhn resistance, and hypertension, to sleep apnea, gallstones, arthritis, and an increased risk for several mahgnancies. These obesity-related medical problems are compounded by the social stigmata of obesity, depression, and the difficulties that obesity poses on the physical examination, diagnostic medical tests, and otherwise routine surgery. 

The obesity prevalence is growing in the workforce of the industrialized countries. Obesity has more than doubled since 1980 and, currently, more than 1.4 billion adults have overweight (WHO, 2012). Nevertheless, obesity is associated with psychological, social and physical problems, which can negatively affect the productivity. Subjects with overweight are absent from work due to illness for longer periods and more often than non-obese subjects, being this absenteeism frequently related to WMSD (Tier et al., 2009). 

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