Social experience of illness (6)

• Social Constructionism


  Understanding of reality. how society is shaped by social interaction and lanaguage
• Disease


  physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms - something on an organ that has to be cured
• Illness


  experience of being sick & having diagnostic - something a person has and is to be managed
• meanings of illness


  Meanings attached to illness can have independent consequences. e.g. cancer is 'evil'. common for those experienced
• Social construct of illness

  Illness is shaped by social, cultural and psychological factors rather than biological
• Social construct of medical knowledge

  understanding of health, illness and medical practices are not solely determined by objective scientific facts
• Medicalisation


  issues not inherently known as medical problems. conditions that were considered 'normal' - anxiety, grief, behaviour management. cleanliness
• Obesity


  a complex issue - product of social, political, economic & biological issues
• Obesity men 18+


  42% overweight

  32% obese
• Obesity women 18+


  30% Overweight

  30% Obese
• Main prevalence of obesity

  Dietary intake

  Energy expenditure