The Developmental & Psycho-social Implications & Impact of the Internet on Obesity
According to Lipzynska (2011), individuals who are experiencing issues with obesity often benefit from proactive engagement with others in similar circumstances. The collaborative process of communication can create an open dialogue where stigmatization related to weight management can be reduced, significantly. By the same token, the Internet serves as an instrumental resource for those seeking information regarding a variety of weight related topics. The span of weight related information on the interest exists within a tapestry of environments. Discussions of obesity span from paradigms of body acceptance, as seen on the website for The National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), to websites that advance a preventative perspective, as illustrated by The Obesity Society or the Obesity Discussion forums (Lipzynska, 2011).
In addition to the internet serving as an educational and preventative medium, the internet may also be simultaneously contributing to growing rates of obesity and sedentary behaviors. Given that sedentary behaviors are associated with obesity and that large proportions of the workforce are employed in settings which require excessive periods of sitting, the relationship between components of the obesigenic environment and the internet is worth exploring. This relationship is apparent in regards to excessive internet use and online video game play (Proper at al, 2007). The transition away from physically demanding forms of play to sedentary forms of entertainment generated by video games and excessive internet use has coincided with substantial increases in childhood obesity rates (Bener et al., 2012)
Research has found that media use—specifically internet and computer use—is associated with higher levels of obesity as measured by BMI (Casiano et al, 2012). By the same token, consumer research has added to previous bodies of literature that have examined the link between obesity and time spent watching television by analyzing the growing interconnections of media sources. Internet usage, television usage, and cell phone usage often occurs simultaneously and all three platforms are often used to project similar forms of entertainment to users. With the advent and adaptation of these various technologies, 35% of individuals are spending leisure time engrossed in one of these formats while 50% of television show consumption is occurring through online video on demand formats (Erlandsson et. al, 2010).
Additionally, the proliferation of video game usage is not only correlated with an increased risk of obesity but also shows a tendency to displace physical activity and time spent making meals. Recently observational studies have been bolstered by experimental designs which have exhibited that male adolescents increased caloric intake following video game play when compared to male adolescents within a control condition. However contributions to over consumption have not been causally deduced. That is to say that eating in the absence of hunger cues in this experimental condition may be due to a variety of factors such as desensitized satiety circuitry or effects in reward circuitry. Moreover, a distinction between games that require physical action should be examined due to the nature of such games to increase activity and the subsequent expenditure of calories (Chaput et al., 2011). With this in mind, games that require physical exertion for task completion may serve as a source of mediation while concurrently increasing activity levels. However, several online games also contain advertisements for dense caloric foods and beverages (Chaput et al, 2011). The impact of these advertisements may be particularly deleterious for children who are still developing cognitive frameworks (Bener et al., 2012)
Moreover, the obesigenic environment is complicated further by the internet when internet usage displaces time spent sleeping. (Chaput et al., 2011). Research has shown a relationship between sleep duration and BMI among adolescents. Adolescents that achieved less hours of sleep had higher rates of BMI as opposed to adolescents that slept for a longer duration. In short, those that slept for only 8 hours were at an increased risk for obesity as opposed to adolescents that achieved 10 hours of sleep. Similar relationships between sleep duration and obesity have also been detailed in other research which documented that children that achieved less than 7 hours of sleep showed higher levels of obesity (Bener et al., 2012). The displacement of sleep that occurs with internet usage and the subsequent impact on BMI highlights the importance of proper hormonal regulation necessary for healthy adolescent development. Remedying the displacement of sleep that often occurs with internet usage may serve as a small but preventative health intervention (Mitchell et al, 2013).
Intervention & Acceptance
The internet has created an environment where perspectives and representations of obesity differ significantly. The majority of internet related approaches concerning obesity fall into two dichotomous categories—acceptance and prevention.
Fat Acceptance, a Response to the Stigma: In the 1960s, fat acceptance emerged as a movement to respond to weight-based discrimination and the stigma directed to fat individuals. Regarded as a consumer-based movement, it attracts those who question the commonly held beliefs that fat is always unhealthy and critically examines the weight loss industry (Dickins et al., 2011). Key elements of the movement include acceptance of one’s body and letting go of the idea that one’s body must conform to societal ideals in order to be acceptable. Those who frequent the Fatosphere question the dominant medical rhetoric about fat equaling unhealthfulness, as well as the social norms that would have one be thin at cost of health or well-being.
Moreover, the expansion of online media formats, such as blogging and YouTube, have allowed the perspective of traditional acceptance to transition from a standardized website format into a more interactive community based paradigm. The perspectives expressed across the Fatosphere draw heavily on seminal organizations such as The National Association to Advance Fat Accpetance--NAAFA. NAAFA considers itself an all volunteer civil rights organization that works to improve the quality of life among fat people. The organizations main objectives are to promote civility and respect, in regards to fat people, and protect fat people’s individual rights while at the same time providing support for self-empowerment through advocacy and education. NAAFA presents the intent of its organization as a threefold paradigm consisting of a vision, a mission, and a promise. All goals combined seek to promote equality for people of every size, eliminate discrimination based on body size, and induce social change. NAAFA proclaims that people come in all sizes, and other members of society should just understand it, support it, and accept it.
Fat Acceptance, a Response to the Stigma: In the 1960s, fat acceptance emerged as a movement to respond to weight-based discrimination and the stigma directed to fat individuals. Regarded as a consumer-based movement, it attracts those who question the commonly held beliefs that fat is always unhealthy and critically examines the weight loss industry (Dickins et al., 2011). Key elements of the movement include acceptance of one’s body and letting go of the idea that one’s body must conform to societal ideals in order to be acceptable. Those who frequent the Fatosphere question the dominant medical rhetoric about fat equaling unhealthfulness, as well as the social norms that would have one be thin at cost of health or well-being.
Moreover, the expansion of online media formats, such as blogging and YouTube, have allowed the perspective of traditional acceptance to transition from a standardized website format into a more interactive community based paradigm. The perspectives expressed across the Fatosphere draw heavily on seminal organizations such as The National Association to Advance Fat Accpetance--NAAFA. NAAFA considers itself an all volunteer civil rights organization that works to improve the quality of life among fat people. The organizations main objectives are to promote civility and respect, in regards to fat people, and protect fat people’s individual rights while at the same time providing support for self-empowerment through advocacy and education. NAAFA presents the intent of its organization as a threefold paradigm consisting of a vision, a mission, and a promise. All goals combined seek to promote equality for people of every size, eliminate discrimination based on body size, and induce social change. NAAFA proclaims that people come in all sizes, and other members of society should just understand it, support it, and accept it.
Online Behavioral Modifications & Obesity Interventions
The internet may not only be used a source of information for those wishing to enact behavior modifications or new personal lifestyle choices but also as a functional medium in therapeutic and weight loss strategies. The inclusion of web based components in behavioral modifications strategies shows mixed results. Research indicates that some studies have been successful at delivering online treatment while other experimental designs have shown that online treatment components are less effective than traditional offline forms of treatment. That is to say that although online components may contribute to initial weight loss, the maintenance of weight loss is not sustained at a level comparable to offline treatment (Berino et al., 2002).
It is also worth noting that some research shows a small increase in amount of weight loss achieved using treatment paradigms that included an online support condition. The impact of online support appears related to the effectiveness of the online intervention design as opposed to characteristics of the user. Moreover, the implementation of online treatment components showed successful only if it augmented offline behavioral therapies. Thus the use of web based treatment components should supplement lifestyle modification that addresses obesity rather than replace offline support and communication (Kodama et al., 2012).
By the same token, the use of computer programs that design optimal diets may be used to tailor a diet for optimal needs. These programs are designed to generate general guidelines for intake of specific nutrients in an attempt to examine appropriate eating habits, optimize nutritional intake, and contribute to behavioral interventions. The effectiveness of online diet optimization still needs to be bolstered but this approach contributes to a growing online world of behavioral treatment strategies related to obesity (Maes et al., 2008). However, participants in some studies have reported a hesitance to use the internet as a form of obesity treatment. With this in mind, issues regarding the long term sustainability of online obesity treatment strategies may be compromised by an initial discomfort among users (Kodama et al.,).
It is also worth noting that some research shows a small increase in amount of weight loss achieved using treatment paradigms that included an online support condition. The impact of online support appears related to the effectiveness of the online intervention design as opposed to characteristics of the user. Moreover, the implementation of online treatment components showed successful only if it augmented offline behavioral therapies. Thus the use of web based treatment components should supplement lifestyle modification that addresses obesity rather than replace offline support and communication (Kodama et al., 2012).
By the same token, the use of computer programs that design optimal diets may be used to tailor a diet for optimal needs. These programs are designed to generate general guidelines for intake of specific nutrients in an attempt to examine appropriate eating habits, optimize nutritional intake, and contribute to behavioral interventions. The effectiveness of online diet optimization still needs to be bolstered but this approach contributes to a growing online world of behavioral treatment strategies related to obesity (Maes et al., 2008). However, participants in some studies have reported a hesitance to use the internet as a form of obesity treatment. With this in mind, issues regarding the long term sustainability of online obesity treatment strategies may be compromised by an initial discomfort among users (Kodama et al.,).