Weight loss in society has created an obsession for many people. In this essay, I will show how society is ultimately responsible for this process of obsession and how it has created an exercise mania that leaves some people desperate to create the "perfect" body. This is ultimately another form of health consciousness that has flooded Western ideals of what it means to be healthy. This has created a niche market fueled by public demand. This demand has its roots in the media creating the ideal of what the perfect body should be. The media thus create adherence to these ideals by the masses. Finally, Western ideals are guided by the democratic model controlled by the people. All of these factors combine to create a society obsessed with the “prefect” body. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Before we discuss the topic at hand, we must first examine the question of what society considers “perfect.” The image that often comes to mind is that of famous models and high-profile athletes, like Cindy Crawford and Mark McGuire. These people are often the idol of many people and set the bar for others to follow. They create the image of what it means to be a “prefect”. The belief that the “perfect” body is unattainable is a false reality. For most, it takes time, hard work and a lot of dedication to become a reality. Health consciousness has many avenues, but one that hasn't been covered much is exercise. This idea first emerged in 1976, when the jogging craze swept Western countries. espoused the idea that exercise was good for your health and that doing more of it would only make things better (Gasser, Happer, & Row, 1976). This notion, however, is now seen in a different light. an addiction like anything else. It is believed that when exercise becomes the primary concern in work, family and relationships, most people suffering from this disorder will exercise even if they are injured or ill, thereby putting their own health at risk. . misses a planned workout time, studies show that the addicted person will experience "anxiety, headaches, restlessness, insomnia, guilt, lack of appetite, irritability, sluggishness, tension, apathy or discomfort” (Fisher, Wrisberg, 2004). Such systems are for the most part classic examples of addiction withdrawal. This proves not only that exercising can become addictive, but also that too much exercise can be a bad thing. What does all this have to do with sociology? In fact, the main theory used in the 2004 “Fisher and Wrisberg” article shows that “social theory suggests that addiction is a process rather than a condition.” This means that exercise is a common method taken to the point of “addiction, compulsion, or pathology.” This is basically a coping strategy gone wrong. Essentially, if the exercise, for example weight training, is started for fun and then turns into a "must" to get rid of possible guilt of not performing the exercise. Another sociological view is that exercise addiction can create “positive deviance.” This is the idea that there is excessive adherence to social norms. The person will start making hard sacrifices to give him a head start. It becomes an addiction to stand out from otherslike his idol did. An example of this sacrifice can be seen in an article by Colleen S. Hughes and Suzanne Hughes describes Colleen's addiction to exercise. This article shows how the effects of sport and social status can affect the mental and physical well-being of the individual. Colleen was in denial about her diet and exercise. This obsession affected almost every aspect of his life. She lost friends because she had almost no time for them and they in turn became suspicious of her behavior. This article proves that exercise addiction is not only about the individual, but also about how that person views the society that views them. (Hughes and Hughes, August 2004) The new industry that has opened up because of this new health consciousness is creating a new social order. This social order wants everyone to be healthy and fit. The ultimate goal here is to achieve the “perfect” body. The healthcare industry has become a multi-million dollar market. This new industry focuses on the desires of the individual that arise from society. These socially consequential desires range from acceptance to sexual attractiveness. This also includes creating shortcuts for people to sculpt the ideal body. These shortcuts come in the form of supplements. They are often considered unhealthy because some can lead to cancer or other long-term health risks. An example of a risky supplement is anabolic steroids, which are essentially lab-made male testosterones. These soft products are extremely bad for your health, but why do people take them? Apart from the prescribed medical reasons, people take anabolic steroids because they will create a muscular body in weeks and not years. There are many underlying social reasons why people take them, which can be very personal, but generally they are peers, sex appeal, trying to emulate sports professionals, personal athletic performance and, for example, -above all, social acceptance. It is also worth mentioning that the advertising these companies do has an effect on society. Often these companies make numerous false claims about their products. For example: “I gained 50 kilos of muscle in less than a month! » (Mccollon, October 2004) There are many cases where these shortcuts are used everywhere. For example, although I have never taken steroids, I have used many types of supplements to gain advantage and control over my body, which has produced acceptable results. I thought this example was necessary to show that everyone can be affected by their peers and external pressures. The latest example from the industry is a new craze for weight-loss surgery. These surgical procedures are often dangerous and have mixed results. An example is the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band. This means the surgeon places a rubber band around the stomach limiting the volume of food the individual can consume. In an article found in Health & Medicine Week – August 23, 2004. Christine Fergison had great difficulty losing weight. This affected her self-esteem and how she saw herself at work, given that she was the head of the Boston Public Health Commission. Although no one came forward to say anything while she was overweight, they did mention it, but after she lost 100 pounds, they praised her progress and mentioned that they felt it was inappropriate that 'she was a commissioner when she was in such bad shape. This article shows how.