Chapter 11 mainly focuses on emotions and how the brain processes emotions. One of the focuses in the chapter that caught my eye was obesity and eating disorders. I found it very interesting that the US has created this concept called portion distortion where the average portion of food served is much more than needed to fill a person. This concept contributes largely to the obesity rate in the United States. Along with that, there is the internal-external theory that contributes to the rate of obesity. Many people see food, hence the external part, and want to eat it while they ignore their stomach telling their brain that they are full, hence the internal part. People who don't listen to their brains when they are full are at a higher risk for obesity. 
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa also caught my eye. People develop these eating disorders when their whole life consists around their weight and image. Media and outside sources contribute greatly to the number of people who are dissatisfied with their body. They are never okay with their body and always see themselves as bigger than they actually are. Anorexia nervosa can lead to numerous health problems such as loss of hair, heart problems, and electrolyte imbalances that can be life threatening.

My question is, with all these facts on obesity, why aren't restaurants cutting down on the portion sizes for meals they serve? Is there a way to stop the obesity epidemic otherwise? Also, is there a way to prevent people, women especially, from developing eating disorders? How can we get the media to start displaying bigger people in magazines and shows to demonstrate that people come in all different sizes and shapes?
Leave a comment