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Running head: CONFLICTING VIEWPOINTS
Conflicting Viewpoints On Obesity
Michelle Kendrick
Professor Alan Rogers
PHI210 Critical Thinking
May 4, 2016
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CONFLICTING VIEWPOINTS
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Part II – Writing
1. State your position on the topic you selected for Assignment 1.1.
Obesity is a disease as it impairs body functioning and reduces the life expectancy. It’s
considered as a threat and is responsible for high mortality rates in the United States. Henceforth,
obesity is a pandemic. It is caused by genetic factors, therefore, passed from parents to offspring.
2. Identify (3) three premises (reasons) from the Procon.org website that support your
position and explain why you selected these specific reasons.
On supporting my view point that obesity is a disease, it’s evident that it obesity causes
impairments by affecting the normal functioning of the body by this it has adverse effects being
advanced to complications like high blood pressure, infertility, coronary heart disease due to
accumulation of fats and even coronary thrombosis, as the veins and arteries are needed for
sufficient blood supply. This will affect their functioning. Also it is evident that obese individuals
have excess of adipose tissue that leads to abnormal regulation of food intake and energy
production, hence a contributing factor to sexual dysfunction in both male and female, low sperm
count in men, and infertility.
Obesity is a disease just like other genetic diseases like sickle-cell anemia, since it’s
inherited from parents to offspring’s. Genes play a major role in genetic deposition whereby,
existence of fat mass and obesity association gene in humans lowers the brain activity by
affecting the part responsible for taste, texture of food and control of impulses. This causes
individuals to develop eating disorders that results to a high affinity for fatty foods and impulsive
eating at old age causing obesity.
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Obesity is a disease as it decreases a person’s life expectancy and can cause death just like
other diseases. It is expected that one’s life span can be dramatically reduced because of
numerous risk factors associated with obesity.
3. Explain your answers to the “believing” questions about the three (3) premises
opposing your position from the Procon.org website.
On believing that obesity causes impairment by affecting the normal function, I would
notice that impairments and normal functioning of the body are not affected by obesity, rather
they are affected by lifestyle and general health inclusive of lack of physical activity, accidents,
mutations, and improper diet. These causes bodily impairments are not necessarily obesity.
If I were to believe that obesity is a genetic disorder just like other disorders, I would
notice that genetic inheritance is not necessarily a major cause of obesity, as the deposition of
large fat mass in adipose tissues depends on the nutrition and rich fatty nutrients consumed by an
individual.
On believing that obesity is a disease since it decreases a person’s life expectancy and can
cause death just like other diseases, then I would notice why some obese people live a long,
healthy life and have a reduction in mortality rates.
4. Examine at least two (2) types of biases that you likely experienced as you evaluated the
premises for and against your position.
On accessing my view point on obesity as a disease, different views experienced as, in
cognitive biases, my view that obesity is a disease have been propounded by facts that it impairs
the functioning of other body organs and genetically being inherited can be passed from parents
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to offspring’s. Much is proved when encountered people who consumes food rich in fat
becoming obese. This is linked to the fat mass obesity associated gene to genetic deposition of
fats in adipose tissues which is a true fact.
In attempt to prove that obesity is a disease, affective prejudice is faced when others hold
to the fact that obesity is not a disease and rather a side effect. From the well known facts about
obesity, many tend to argue and deviate from the norms in response to what they like or dislike.
They could argue that use of contraceptives, steroids, antidepressants and lack of sleep causes
obesity, and incline to it as conveyed by either their informant from their religion, country or
book content. Hence the conflicting view point is to prove that obesity is truly a disease.
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5. Discuss the effects of your own enculturation or group identification that may have
influenced your biases.
On adopting the behavior pattern of peers living with obesity, many suggest their parents
or family members are affected by the disease. Some live lifestyles ingesting large amounts of
fats and sugars. A routine of exercise is almost non-existent because people drive everywhere,
park close to the entrance, and take elevators, lending to a sedentary lifestyle causing weight
gain.
6. Discuss whether or not your thinking about the topic has changed after playing
the “Believing Game,” even if your position on the issue has stayed the same.
My thinking has not changed on my viewpoint after playing the “Believing Game”. I feel
that it is factual obesity is very much a disease and also a genetic inheritance. These major
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contributing factors often result in imperfections with organ function, hormone imbalances, and
unhealthy eating habits, in the functioning of some body organs, hormonal changes in the body,
junky food lifestyles, and diabetes.
In conclusion, obesity is generally a life threatening disease and efforts to curb it may be
fruitless in individuals whose kinship is affected. Through genetic inheritance obesity will
automatically manifest itself, several research has been done on the possible cure, but only the
type of lifestyle that individuals will live will be a determinant whether symptoms will manifest
or not. Lastly, regular medical checkups and lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and
nutritional meals can aid in an obese-free society.
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References
The Lancet. (2013) slimming down childhood obesity. The lancet.382(9892),57