La obesidad paradójica: construcción de una imagen corporal contradictoria = Paradoxical obesity: building a contradictory body image

Abstract

Abstrac:This work resume the results of a phenomenological study on obesity about Mexican and Mexican-Americans participants (Cabello and Zúñiga 2007), selecting 18 candidates with average obesity and morbid obesity through an intentional criteria (9 women and 9 men Mexican and Mexican-Americans) who had a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 35, ages between 24 and 55 years. The central idea in the structure of the study was founded on lived experiences of participants; considering that each person creates, organizes and manage in a unique way their own experience. The contribution of the theoretical approach of Husserl's Phenomenological Perspective (1998) and Lazarus´ emotions Theory (2000) were used as the lens through which was explained the lived experience of the research subjects. The results show that obesity generates paradoxes that allow participants to self-acceptance and «live happily in big bodies», which conduce into a positive self image; and the other hand, a perception that causes disputes conflict and frustration, especially whom start to gain weight after a stressful life event. The lived experience of these participants found out a positive connotation towards food that comes from eating patterns learned in the original family and a specific cultural context; and other negative connotation that comes of using food as a refuge in stressful life events, or dealing with unpleasant emotions. The results of the study are invited to a social intervention proposal for dealing with obesity focused on symbolic interaction theory; the key point is the assumption of the reflexive nature of people and their autonomy to take action through principle interactive determination. This proposal focuses on strengthening the skills of people with obesity through self-help groups, in order to generate new behaviors, attitudes, emotions and thoughts through a process of re-learning and redefinition of concepts that creates sustainable change in their life quality.

Overvaluation of Eating and Satiation Explains the Association of Food Insecurity and Food Intake With Obesity and Cardiometabolic Diseases

“…10,11 Moreover, several studies have identified in low socioeconomic status (SES) Latino populations a tendency to prolong satiation and to overeat, which may have an impact on food choice and eating habits. 12 -16 Measuring scales that estimate valuation of eating as an important component of wealth and valuation of satiation were developed and validated in Mexican women. It was confirmed that women who recall experiences of food insecurity in the past overvaluate eating and satiation.…”