Sunday, December 29, 2019

Assisted Suicide A Life Or Death Situation - 870 Words

If you were in a life or death situation, what would you do? This is what A Life-or Death Situation by the New York Times is primarily about a person who goes through one such situation. The author s purpose for writing this is what could happen in a life or death situation and the use of assisted suicide if need be. Some main points may include how the wife in the story defends the reasoning’s in a few court cases, how she personally deals with her situation, and how she helps other people seeking the same problem. The article with a before the accident and how it happened. In the beginning it talks about how the accident first occurred and how dramatic it is. It also sheds a little detail about how if the wife had been there she would have chosen not to revive him so he wouldn’t be in so much pain and hooked up to many machines, â€Å"[i]f Peggy been there... she might have urged the rescuers not to revive him†¦ he wanted no procedures done that ‘would ser ve only to unnaturally prolong the moment of my death.’† (53), unfortunately that was not the case. Next the story goes on to tell how life is after the accident and how they are coping with it. The author points out how later on the wife in the article is a professor who researches and teaches about life or death situations as well as going through one herself. â€Å"Suffering, suicide, euthanasia†¦ these were subjects she had thought and written about for years, and now †¦ they became unbearably personal† (54.) The wife in theShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Surrounding Physician-Assisted Suicide Essay1673 Words   |  7 PagesPhysician-assisted suicide is the practice in which a doctor prescribes a terminally ill patient with a lethal medication as a form of active, voluntary euthanasia. These patients, rather than suffer slowly and painfully, often request this procedure as a means of experiencing a more â€Å"dignified† death. The debate surroun ding this issue is a heated one, especially among the general public whose attitudes are deeply influenced by the level of patient pain and discomfort (Frileux et al. 334). At theRead MoreAdvocates Against Assisted Suicide Advocates Essay1681 Words   |  7 PagesAdvocates against assisted suicide argue that the untaken medication will be dispersed to a larger group of people than just the terminally ill it was intended for. A little over 40% of the population of individuals that received life-ending medication did not even take the medication (Keown 172). Keown details a summary of the prescriptions ingested in 2015 as of this current January. All of the medications that a prescription was written for were carefully tracked and observed. The Death with DignityRead MoreAssisted Suicide Is Not Common For All Areas Throughout The United States890 Words   |  4 PagesAssisted Suicide Imagine being diagnosed with a life-ending disease and experiencing such excruciating pain that doctors say cannot be healed. Pain is a terrible thing to experience, especially when it is permanent. What can be done to relieve that pain? What if the only option to rid the pain from the patient is death? No one knows how that feels until it happens to them, that is why assisted suicide is used. Assisted suicide is a practice throughout most of the United States that terminatesRead MoreAssisted Suicide And Euthanasia Is Not An Act Of Euthanasia916 Words   |  4 Pagestheir life hence, putting an end to their suffering. For this reason, physician assisted suicide and euthanasia are compassionate responses to a terminally ill patient’s unbearable suffering. By definition, assisted suicide is when someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called physician assisted suicide. EuthanasiaRead MoreEuthanasia and Assisted Suicide1645 Words   |  7 PagesEuthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are actions at the core of what it means to be human - the moral and ethical actions that make us who we are, or who we ought to be. Euthanasia, a subject known in the twenty-first century, is subject to many discussions about ethical permissibility, which date back to as far as ancient Greece and Rome. It was not until the Hippocratic School removed the practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide from medical practice. Euthanasia in itself raises manyRead MorePhysician-Assisted Suicide - an Utilitarian Perspective Essay example1476 Words   |  6 PagesPhysician -assisted suicide is â€Å"the voluntary termination of ones own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. Physician-assisted suicide is the practice of providing a competent patient with a prescription for medication for the patient to use with the primary intention of ending his or her own life† (MedicineNet.com, 2004). Many times this ethical issue arises when a terminally-ill patient with and incurable illness, whom is given littleRead MoreShould Physician Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?1426 Words   |  6 PagesPhysician assisted suicide is also known as assisted suicide. It is a very controversial procedure. It is not favored by many. However, in present day society is little bit inclined towards assisted suicide. There is ongoing debate on the legalization of assisted suicide. The main reason to oppose of assisted suicide is the fear of mistreatment of the patient, abuse of power and so on. In contrary, many se e assisted suicide as a way to decrease pain in the end of life. Read MorePlaying God Or Dying With Dignity1525 Words   |  7 Pages Playing God or Dying with Dignity. In life, there are challenges that, can alter our daily being one challenge, is illness that can consume our bodies. The other is, a physiological result of medicating the body for a prolonged life. We, look to God!!! As, a Major source of healing and, the Doctor as, a major source of remedy. When our situations sometimes become over-bearing, healing, only breaks our positive mode and the doctors remedy give us bleak hope†¦We look to other means of consolationRead MoreIf There Was Absolutely No Possibility Of Recovery, And1105 Words   |  5 Pages If there was absolutely no possibility of recovery, and the patient was suffering nearly everyday, the avenue of assisted suicide should be presented and given merit. With no possible way to avoid problems, issues arise for every possible situation, as assisted suicide is sometimes viewed as the easy way out. Large amounts of planning, assisted suicide by no means is easy though the drugs are roughly one hundred dollars (ProCon). The patient must come to terms with what will happen if they do notRead MoreEthics of Euthanasia Essay1475 Words   |  6 Pagestype of relief from this hardship, even if that relief is suicide. Euthanasia or assisted suicide is where a physician would give a patient an aid in dying. â€Å"Assisted suicide is a controversial medical and ethical issue based on the question of whether, in certain situations, Medical practioners should be allowed to help patients actively determine the time and circumstances of their death† (Lee). â€Å"Arguments for and against assisted suicide (sometimes called the â€Å"right to die† debate) are complicated

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Essay about The Gold Coast after Gaining Independence from...

In 1957, Ghana gained independence from Britain. Ghanaian kingdoms varied religiously, ethnically, and culturally. Because of this, Ghana, which the regions of Togo and the Ivory Coast presently surround, has been plagued with the effects of too much ethnic diversity.The developing movements for political expansion of early established kingdoms created the foundation for the later independence movements. Pre- independent Ghana a.k.a The Gold Coast, consisted of an imperial authority and colonial powers , Portuguese, Dutch, Prussia, and Britain, who oppressed the natives, exploited them for slave labor and manipulated their economic wealth for their natural resources. Chiefs in the 17th century developed the concept of growing and spurring†¦show more content†¦Kingdoms, chiefdoms, and early tribal political entities were set in place as forms of governance. After European colonialism along the West coast of Africa , the people of The Gold Coast/ Ghana became mainly Christia n or Muslim depending on the population’s participation in European trade and adaption of colonial cultures and religions. The spread of Christianity through Christian missionaries incorporated western ideology which indirectly encouraged the region to pursue self-determination. The negative stimuli in The Gold Coast during the 19th century were the pre-colonial internal affairs amongst rivaling tribes and chiefdoms, the alliances of native tribes with the European colonial forces in hopes to benefit from the union of powers to help overrule the rival ethnic groups, the European economically induced colonization, and the British imperialism. Commencing before European colonization, the various chiefdoms fought to gain superior power over the other in efforts to stabilize and develop their status in the region. Muslim merchants that participated in the sub-saharan trade routes bought and sold gold, ivory, and pepper from the region which spread the idea that The Gold Coast contained a rich source of natural resources to Western merchants. The Gold Coast became popular when the Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, German, and English traders explored the West Coast of Africa beginning in the fifteenth centuryShow MoreRelatedDifferences Between Sierra Leone And Ghana1580 Words   |  7 Pagesshow the similarities between Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian cultures. As for both Sierra Leone and Ghana, we see major European influence shaping how each emerged into the countries they are today. Geographically positioned in West Africa along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, both countries became prime locations for stops along Atlantic trade routes. The goods that first attracted Europeans to each country differed. Sierra Leone had diamonds and Ghana had rich goldfields. However, with the new AmericanRead MoreCoffe and the History of Ethiopia1030 Words   |  4 PagesThe popularity of coffee began with its introduction to Europe in the 17th century, a time when colonialism had brought many resources to countries like France and Britain. In Europe, coffee was a delicious beverage, and was very inexpensive due to the monopoly of coffee imports from colonized to colonizer. But while tea was still the preferred choice in North America, an increasingly higher tax on America’s favorite beverage led to the Boston Tea Party. Tea forever came to be known for the BritishRead MoreThe Great Britain s Era Of Colonization1940 Words   |  8 Pages Paul R. Bontempo William E. Balding Mrs. Malangoni English 12-8 British Colonialism Introduction Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. (â€Å"Colonialism†). Great Britain’s era of colonization is between the years of 1607 to the present day, as Britain maintains a collective of Crown dependencies such as The Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey, British Overseas Territories suchRead MoreA Very Brief History of Cuba2147 Words   |  9 Pages Countries that were once colonies went through various stages of evolution in order to develop economically, politically, and culturally while gaining independence. Cuba, a former colony of Spain, has changed drastically throughout the years. Although in some cases, colonialism has had a positive effect on the country in the area regarding education and health care and on the other hand, has created an economic gap between the citizens. The government, social structure, and economy in the countryRead Mor eWestern Global Colonial Empire Building And Decline1956 Words   |  8 PagesIndochina. Also, the Dutch had a colony in Indonesia. After a majority of Western Expansion in America, The United States took Hawaii mainly due to military strategy. Additionally, defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War, the United States was able to win Cuba, Philippines, and eventually the Panama Canal for important economic trading. Even with all of this European and Western expansion, China stayed away and maintained its independence for the most part. Latin America was mainly aboutRead MoreThe Long Term Effects Of European Imperialism After The Berlin Conference2014 Words   |  9 Pages The Long-Term Effects of European Imperialism after the Berlin Conference In 1885 at Berlin, the major european powers meet together, each seeking to increase their influence on the world by taking control of the African continent. Europe had a grip on Africa until a series of African independence movements in the 1960s. Between that time the native people of each African colony were treated differently and used for different purposes. Compare and Contrast how each European country used and treatedRead MoreFACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR RISE AND GROWTH OF NATIONALITY IN NIGERIA.3593 Words   |  15 Pagesand new policies. The radical phase came during and after the Second World War, subsequently leading to independence. Although the ultimate goal of nationalism was to secure the country’s independence, it had other interrelated dimensions: the â€Å"new Nigeria† would be governed by Westernized elite, working, through the agency of political parties and Western political ideas, to create a united and developed country. If the British took over powe r from traditional elite, nationalism and modernization forcedRead MoreEssay on South Africa3526 Words   |  15 Pagesslightly less than twice the size of Texas, about 1,223,201 square kilometers. Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland run from west to east along South Africa’s northern border. The country of Lesotho lies entirely within the borders of South Africa and is completely landlocked. The South Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean surround the southern coast. South Africa is divided into nine provinces: the Northern Province, Kwazulu/Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the North West Province, theRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesseveral points both before the year 2000 (the collapse of the Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany, the surge of globalization from the mid-1990s) and afterward (9/11, or the global recession of 2008) when one could quite plausibly argue that a new era had begun. A compelling case can be made for viewing the decades of the global scramble for colonies after 1870 as a predictable culmination of the long nineteenth century, which was ushered in by the industrial and political revolutionsRead MoreForeign Aid and Economic Growth in the Developing Countries - a Cross-Country Empirical Analysis12252 Words   |  50 PagesABSTRACT OF THE THESIS Using cross-country data, I examine how foreign aid affects economic growth in developing countries over the period from 1975 to 2000. I find evidence that foreign aid significantly and negatively correlates with growth in developing countries. However, foreign aid to inland countries as well as to South Asian countries during the period of 1992-2000 is found to have a positive impact on growth. In addition, a strong divergence trend is found among countries in the data

Friday, December 13, 2019

The Future of Biopsychology-Obesity Free Essays

NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET Learner: Consuela Kelly-Crisler THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED IN Please Follow These Procedures: If requested by your mentor, use an assignment cover sheet as the first page of the word processor file. Use â€Å"headers† to indicate your course code, assignment number, and your name on each page of the assignment/homework including this assignment cover sheet. . We will write a custom essay sample on The Future of Biopsychology-Obesity or any similar topic only for you Order Now Keep a Photocopy or Electronic Copy Of Your Assignments: You may need to re-submit assignments if your mentor has indicated that you may or must do so. Academic Integrity: All work submitted in each course must be the Learner’s own. This includes all assignments, exams, term papers, and other projects required by the faculty mentor. The knowing submission of another persons work represented as that of the Learner’s without properly citing the source of the work will be considered plagiarism and will result in an unsatisfactory grade for the work submitted or for the entire course, and may result in academic dismissal. PSY5106Dr. Nicol Moreland BiopsychologyAssignment 8 Faculty Use Only The Future of Biopsychology- Obesity Consuela Kelly-Crisler Northcentral University Biopsychology PSY5106 Dr. Nicol Moreland December 9, 2012 A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above normal weight. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index or BMI. A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29. 9; a person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30. â€Å"Morbid obesity† means that a person is either 50%-100% over normal weight, more than 100 pounds over normal weight, has a BMI of 40 or higher, or is sufficiently overweight to severely interfere with health or normal function (What is Obesity? 2012). Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns. For many people this boils down to eating too much and exercising too little. But there are other factors that also play a role in obesity. People tend to gain weight as they get older, even if they don’t alter their eating habits. This is because the human metabolism slows down as we age. We don’t need to take in as many calories as we used to in order to maintain the same weight. Therefore, we store more of the food we take in as fat. Women tend to be overweight more often than men because men tend to burn calories at a higher rate (What is Obesity? 012). Obesity and thinness seems to have a have a nature versus nurture component. If a patient’s biological mother is heavy as an adult, there is approximately a 75% chance that she will be heavy. Likewise, the children of thin parents have a 75% chance of being thin (What is Obesity? 2012). This doesn’t mean that the child of obese pa rents has to be obese, though. Many find ways to keep the weight off. Genetics are important, but lifestyle choices such as eating and exercise habits are, too. Less active people tend to require less calories than more active people; they don’t need as much fuel because they’re doing less work. Physical activity also causes the body to burn calories faster on average, and decreases appetite. People exercising less is thought to be a leading cause of obesity over the last 20 years. Psychological factors also influence eating habits and obesity. Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. People who have difficulty with weight management may be facing more emotional and psychological issues; about 30% of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating. During a binge-eating episode, people eat large amounts of food while feeling they can’t control how much they are eating. (Obesity Facts, 2012) Obesity can be caused by illness, though people blame more cases of obesity on illness than is actually true. Illnesses sometimes responsible for obesity include hypothyroidism (poorly acting thyroid slows metabolism), depression, and some rare diseases of the brain that can lead to overeating. Social factors, including poverty and a lower level of education, have been linked to obesity. One reason for this may be that high-calorie processed foods cost less and are easier to find and prepare than healthier foods, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. However, the link between low socioeconomic status and obesity has not been conclusively established, and recent obesity research shows that childhood obesity, for instance, is also increasing among high-income groups. The best methods of obesity treatment are dieting and physical exercise. Obese people should adjust their diet to reduce fat and sugar consumption, and increase dietary fiber. Anti-obesity drugs can also be effective in conjunction with a healthy diet, reducing one’s appetite and/or fat absorption. Some obese people require stomach or bowel reduction surgery in order to lose weight. The smaller stomach allows them to consume less food and still feel full. Obesity is a leading worldwide cause of preventable death, and authorities view it as one of the most serious health problems of this century. While in some cultures, obesity is a sign of prosperity and childbearing, in the Western world, it is frequently viewed negatively. While whether to consider obesity as its own separate disease is a matter of some debate, it is certainly a factor in many physical and mental ailments. Obesity is associated with angina, myocardial infarction and between 21 and 34% of ischemic heart disease, depending on which research you read. Body-mass index levels associated with obesity also double a person’s risk of heart failure and deep-vein thrombosis and cause over 85% of cases of hypertension (five times the normal risk). Obesity is also associated with higher levels of LDL cholesterol and lower levels of HDL. Obesity also has a variety of dermatological affects, including stretch marks, acanthosis nigricans, lymphedema, cellulitis, hirsutis and intertrigo (Bray, 2004). Obesity has also been shown to be linked with type 2 diabetes in 64% of cases in men and 77% of women’s. Sixty percent of patients diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome are obese, as are six percent of the infertile. Obesity is related to many complications in pregancy, including hemorrhage, infection, increased hospital stays for the mother and increased NICU requirements for the infant. Obese women are twice as likely to require a Cesarean section and are at a high risk of preterm births and low birth weight infants. Children born of obese women have a greater risk of anencephaly and spina bifida, cardiovascular anomalies, including septal anomalies, cleft lip and palate, anorectal malformation, limb reduction anomalies, and hydrocephaly (Haslam, 2005). Obese women have a nearly double risk of stroke compared to normal-weight women, while men have twice as great a chance. Those who are obese have a rate of dementia 1. times greater than those of normal weight. Women obese at the age of eighteen have a greater than double chance of contracting multiple sclerosis. Obesity has also been shown to cause approximately five percent of cancers, including breast, ovarian, esophageal, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, gallbladder, stomach, endometrial, cervical, prostate, kidney, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma (Bray, 2004). In addition to these physical effec ts, obese people are less likely to get married and make thousands less than their normal-weight counterparts, on average. Depression is also linked to obesity, though an increase in BMI has been linked to a decrease in the risk of suicide. Several studies suggest that many physicians treat obese patients differently. In a 1969 survey of physicians, obese patients were described as â€Å"weak-willed,† â€Å"ugly,† â€Å"awkward,† and â€Å"self-indulgent. † In a more recent physician survey, one of three doctors said they respond negatively to obesity, behind three other diagnostic/social categories: drug addiction, alcoholism, and mental illness. A comparable study found that two-thirds of doctors believe obese patients lack self-control, and 39 percent feel they are lazy. Two studies of nurses showed similar results. These attitudes carry over into the work world, where a job or a promotion is often denied simply because of how much one weighs. Obesity research and treatment is a very provocative subject. A 2011 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association proposes that states consider removing obese children above the 99th percentile from their homes. The author views temporary foster care as part of the remedy for childhood obesity by providing an environment where the children would be exposed to proper nutrition and activity levels. During the separation period, the parents could also be educated on the best ways to assist their child in coping with their issue. Due to the relationship between obesity and low income (low income families can’t easily afford nutritious food, and low earners are often distracted from their family issues, whether by a second job, or by concerns like drug or alcohol abuse) and education (low income families usually aren’t as educated, which bleeds over into health issues like obesity) this solution seems severe but grounded in science. Detractors point out that the home environment is only one contributing factor to obesity, and that a child’s obesity isn’t automatically considered abuse under the law. They cite studies showing that children get more of their food away from home, limiting the influence of even educated and involved parents. Also, neither the potential effectiveness of the proposal in terms of reducing obesity or the potential harm to the family unit caused by the removal have been substantiated. Psychological damage could in fact be inflicted, both to the parents and child, by causing them to feel at fault for the obesity. This could lead to self-esteem issues, depression and more. This is without even taking into consideration the harm done by taking a child away from his or her parents, even on a temporary basis. Another treatment, as novel as the last if not as heavy-handed, is the potential for virtual-reality treatment of obesity. Virtual reality, also being used to treat psychological disorders like anxiety and addiction, allows clinicians to offer exposure therapy in the comforts of their own offices without the problems sometimes posed by actual exposure. The benefit to the patient comes from being in a safe environment where they can let themselves connect emotionally with the treatment. Virtual reality has already been shown to induce a variety of controlled changes in the body, to include the sensation of a fake limb or an out of body experience. Researchers have even used virtual reality to give male subjects the feeling of being in a female body. From this point, it’s only a small leap to giving an obese person the sensation of being in a a normal-weight body. In one experiment, scientists discovered the neural systems involved in VR improvement of body image. This, combined with an adaptation of therapy used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, is being used the help patients identify and change habits contributing to eating disorders and obesity. The first twenty minutes of the VR sessions are used for the therapist to get an understanding of the patient’s concerns and experiences related to food. The patient does most of the talking, while the therapist guides the session. The second twenty minutes are devoted to the actual VR session. The simulation can create a number of environments, like a classroom, apartment, or pub, to recreate some of the experiences the patient detailed to the therapist. The simulation also includes a body-image room, where the patient can create an ideal VR body and compare it to their real one. The last twenty minutes are used to discuss the patient’s VR experience. In terms of ethical considerations, the first needs to be how much the government, communities and families are obligated to ensuring obese people get the treatment they need. It is very easy to dismiss obese people as having â€Å"done it to themselves,† since many cases could simply be prevented by eating better and exercising more. Mental illnesses are, by and large, viewed differently by much of the public than physical ailments. A person who doubled in size due to a war injury that prevented them from exercising, for instance, would likely garner more sympathy than a person who simply doubled in size because they went to McDonald’s four times a week. This, of course, influences the discussion on how much the government should be obligated to pay for medical care of the obese. Much like the arguments against smokers being covered by public assistance against the effects of their bad habit, a case can be made for whether tax dollars should pay for an obese person’s weight-reduction surgery or triple bypass. While the legitimacy of these concerns can probably never be agreed upon yet by the majority, the government’s responsibility to educate people on preventative measures and healthy choices cannot be minimized, and the effects of those programs should not be overlooked. Some scientists acknowledge the responsibility of the obese for their conditions, but believe that it should only be a treatment focus if it did not harm the patient’s mental health. Those scientists also take issue with the public opinion stigma against obese people, due to the additional burden it places on patients. In the Western world especially, obese people are often considered lazy, overeaters or both. It is not ethical to assume this is true in all cases, those researchers say, and not ethical to create policy or legislation based on those assumptions, either. Those assumptions can only be used positively in the shaping of preventative suggestions (anyone will benefit from more exercise and better eating, obese or not, so it’s acceptable to suggest them to everyone). Another consideration is what obese patients themselves consider acceptable in terms of treatment. Studies sow that obese adults prefer interventions that are non-commercial, don’t fall back on common stereotypes and promote lifestyle changes (health initiatives and exercise) rather than simple weight loss (dieting, bariatric surgery). Care should be taken to ensure that treatment of obese patients does not impact their mental health negatively, by reinforcing social stigmas, negative self-image, instilling disregard for the positive social and cultural aspects of eating, disregarding the patient’s privacy and personal freedom in decision-making. One model, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics stewardship model of public health, recommends public programs that do not attempt to coerce adults to lead healthy lives, minimize introduction of interventions with-out consent; and minimize interventions that are unduly intrusive and in con? ct with personal values. The stewardship model also incorporates an intervention ladder, ranging from ‘no intervention’ to ‘eliminating choice’ altogether. Eliminating choice, under this model, would be reserved for serious public health issues, such as an infectious patient requiring quarantine in order to ensure the safety of the general populationâ€⠀something obviously more serious than an obese patient. Restricting choice would take the form of removing unhealthy ingredients or foods from stores and restaurants (as in the recent limit on the size of fountain drinks in New York City). Guiding through disincentives or incentives is on another level of the spectrum, by making it not worth a person’s effort to do something, or vice versa—higher medical insurance premiums for obese people who are doing it to themselves, for example. It is a model that clearly illustrates ways in which the government can support public health without becoming overbearing and infringing on people’s rights. In summary, obesity is a major public health issue with far reaching consequences to a fair majority of the population. It is detrimental to those who suffer from it, both mentally and physically. Its physical effects are literally a head-to-toe list of increases risks of illness and injuries. Its mental effects include damage to patients’ self-image, which can bleed over into how the patient deals with work, social situations, parenting and every other aspect of life. There are numerous factors involved in an obese person’s condition; genetics, upbringing, cultural values and mores, living environment and socio-economics. Some people become obese due to pre-existing medical concerns, while others achieve the condition by eating the wrong things and not exercising enough. Once they do reach an obesity-qualifying body-mass index level, they can expect (in the Western world, at least), they can be expected to be held responsible for their condition no matter how it was reached, and to be treated differently simply because they’re not at a normal weight. Treatments for obesity range from the tried-and-true to the newfangled and from therapeutic to overbearing, with varying degrees of efficacy. Some involve the government, while others simply a life coach, dietician or trainer. Opinions on how to handle obesity fall at varying points on a wide spectrum. The most logical source of information on how obese people should be treated—obese people themselves—tend to prefer an approach that helps them change their lives as a whole in order to lose weight and prevent harmful behaviors, rather than one that consists merely of a change in diet with no measures against become obese again at a later date. The ethical concerns in treating obesity include how to best treat obesity without making the patient feel worse about their problem and how much responsibility should be borne by someone other than the obese person themselves (i. . , the government). Future treatments for obesity may very well take a more holistic approach rather than simply tackling the separate components of diet and exercise. Scientists have taken steps toward mapping the areas of the brain involved with impulse control and self-image, and developing ways of modifying behaviors using this information may prove useful in stemming the tide. Similar discoveries may fuel new ways of educating people on how to prevent obesity in the future as well, rather than only ways of reversing it after the fact. And of course, the more understanding we have of obesity and its causes, the more tolerant and accepting we should become as a whole towards people suffering from it. References What is Obesity? (2012) Retrieved December 7, 2012, from http://www. webmd. com/diet/what-is-obesity Bray GA (2004). Medical consequences of obesity. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. Haslam DW, James WP (2005). Obesity. Lancet Childhood Obesity Prevention. (2012). In Root Cause. Retrieved October 14, 2012, from http://rootcause. org/childhood-obesity-prevention Obesity Facts, Causes, Emotional Aspects and When to Seek Help. (2012). In WebMD. Retrieved October 14, 2012, from http://www. webmd. com/diet/what-is-obesity? page=2 Pinel, J. P. J. (2009). Biopsychology (7th ed. ). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon Hahler B (June 2006). An overview of dermatological conditions commonly associated with the obese patient. Arendas K, Qiu Q, Gruslin A (June 2008). â€Å"Obesity in pregnancy: pre-conceptional to postpartum consequences†. Calle EE, Rodriguez C, Walker-Thurmond K, Thun MJ (April 2003). Overweight, obesity, and mortality from cancer in a prospectively studied cohort of U. S. adults†. Relationship Between Poverty and Overweight or Obesity. Retrieved December 7, 2012, from http://frac. org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/are-low-income-people-at-greater-risk-for-overweight-or-obesity/ Meetoo D. The imperative of human obesity: an ethical reflection. Br J Nurs 2010; 19: 563–8. Nuffield Council on Bioethics. Public health: ethical issues. London: Nuffield Council on Bioethics; 2007. Available at: http://www. nuffieldbioethics. org/public-health (Cited 9 December 2011). How to cite The Future of Biopsychology-Obesity, Essay examples