The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P)

Vol-1, Issue (8): 290-295
www.theexplorerpak.org

CONSEQUENCES OF OBESITY ON SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP OF WOMEN IN DISTRICT DG KHAN

Shazia Mehmood1, Farhan Riaz Bhutta1, Rashid Mehmood1, Zaighum Abbas2, Muhammad Shahzad1
1
Department of Sociology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, 2Department of Sociology,
Bahuddin Zakria University Multan
Corresponding Author:
Shazia Mehmood
PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi
Shaziamehmood5@hotmail.com
Abstract: The present study was conducted in the district of D.G Khan. The main goal was to attain all the information
of consequences of obese women and to uncover the effects of obesity on social relationships of women. A Sample of
two hundreds obese women was picked up through purpose sampling technique. It was concluded that 59.5 percent of
the respondents said that obesity affects on their social relationships to great extent, 31.0 percent of the respondents
said that obesity affects on their social relationships to some extent and 9.5 percent of the respondents said that
obesity does not affects on their social relationships at all. Moreover results reflect that 57.5 percent of the
respondents have 1-4 friends and 3.0 percent of the respondents have Above 20 friends.

Key Words: Women Problem, Obesity, Social Relationship, Consequences

INTRODUCTION
Obesity is one of the main preventable reasons for
death around the world. Huge scale studies have
found that mortality danger is most minimal when
the obesity is at begin stage. In the United States
obesity is evaluated to bring about an abundance
111,909 to 365,000 deaths for every year, while 1
million (7.7%) of deaths in the European are
ascribed to overabundance weight. By and large,
weight lessens future by six to seven years. While
extreme obesity diminishes future by 10 years
(Prospective Studies Collaboration 2009).
Open observations in Pakistan in regards to solid
body weight vary from those with respect to the
weight that is viewed as perfect and both have
changed subsequent to the start of the twentieth
century. The weight that is seen as a perfect has
ended up lower subsequent to the 1920s. Then
again, individuals' perspectives concerning solid
weight have altered in the inverse course. In
Pakistan the weight at which individuals viewed
themselves as to be overweight was essentially
higher in 2007 than in 1999. These progressions are
accepted to be because of expanding rates of
adiposity prompting expanded acknowledgment of
additional muscle to fat quotients as being ordinary
(Johnson 2008).
Obesity in Pakistan is a wellbeing issue that has
pulled in concern in the previous couple of years.
Urbanization and an unfortunate, vitality thick
eating regimen (the high vicinity of oil and fats in
Pakistani cooking), and also evolving ways of life,

are among the underlying drivers adding to

corpulence in the nation. As indicated by a
rundown of the world's "fattest nations" distributed
on Forbes, Pakistan is positioned 165 (out of 194
nations) as far as its overweight populace, with
22.2% of people beyond 15 years old intersection
the edge of obesity. This proportion generally
compares with different studies, which express
one-in-four Pakistani grown-ups as being
overweight
(Gulf News
2006).
Research
demonstrates that individuals living in huge urban
areas in Pakistan are more presented to the
dangers of obesity when contrasted with those in
the places of rural areas. Ladies additionally
normally have higher rates of obesity when
contrasted with men. Pakistan likewise has the
most astounding rate of individuals with diabetes
(Nanan 2009). Notwithstanding its wellbeing
effects, obesity prompts numerous issues
incorporating weaknesses in occupation and
expanded business costs. These impacts are felt by
all levels of society from people, to partnerships, to
governments (Johansson 2009).
The US state of Alabama Employees' Insurance
Board affirmed a disputable arrangement to charge
fat laborers $25 every month on the off chance that
they don't take measures to decrease their obesity
and enhance their health. These measures began in
January 2010 and apply to those with high Body
Mass Index who neglect to make enhancements in
their health following one year (Fernandez 2009).

290

Observed the effects of obesity on social relations.

They indicated expanded danger of death among
persons with a low amount, and now and then low
quality of social connections. They recommend that
social disengagement created by obesity is a
noteworthy danger component for mortality from
generally differing reasons. The elements through
which social connections are influencing by obesity
are staying to be investigated (House, et al. 1988).
Obese women are both held accountable for their
obesity and rejected on account of their obesity.
Secondly, he presented evidence that obese
women face criticism by their social relationships
because of their obesity. He suggested that women
should control their obesity this will improve the
life satisfaction, social relations and mental health
of millions of obese women (Rothblum 1992).
Obese ladies may have generally poor social
connections regardless of the fact that self-reports
about their connections don't vary from the reports
of non-obese ladies. Seventy seven corpulent and
seventy eight non obese ladies finished self-reports
measures of social tension. Social self-regard, social
capability, interpersonal organization estimate, and
safeguarded social backing from loved ones.
Companions additionally evaluated these ladies on
the same measures. Self-report of large and nonobese ladies did not contrast essentially on any of
these social measures and evaluations from
companions of obese ladies were not unique in
relation to appraisals of non-obese ladies by
companions. These outcomes recommended that
fat ladies may have the capacity to overcome
partiality against obesity individuals in their
associations with others (Miller and Rothblum
1995).
Obese women with high self-esteem, who believes
that they can control their obesity, relatively have
good social relations than those obese women who
consider that weight is due to luck, they have low
self-esteem that have negative effects on their
social relations. They suggested that it would seem
important to change obese womens attitudes
about the lack of control that they have over their
obesity.
Those people who are perceived to be in a social
relationship with obese women that face poor
social relations. Two experiments examined
whether this phenomenon also occurs for people
seen in the presence of an obese woman and
whether a social relationship is necessary for
stigmatization to spread. The results from both
experiments showed that a male job applicant was
rated more negatively when seen with an obese

woman compared to a normal weight woman. They

concluded that the people, who are in relation with
obese women, their social relations are also
affected by the obesity of women that is the reason
that obese women have poor social relations (Hebl
and Mannix 2003).
Lower social life is associated with a higher
prevalence of obesity. Social life is defined as
relating to or engages in social activities. In women,
the prevalence of obesity increased with social
lower levels of engaging in social activities. They
suggested that Compared with the higher
categories of social life Lower social status was
positively associated with obesity in women, and
the association was in the opposite direction in
men.
Obesity women are getting affected on both the
levels including quantitative and qualitative. Social
scientist had played an important and influential
role to develop the linkage between the social
relationship between the obese women and their
obesity. Sociologist elaborated for this linkages
through that they have come to know the social
variation (e.g, gender and race) in the population.
They have also explained that the obesity have long
and short term effect on social relationships of
obese women. The worse condition is that when
children got obesity in their childhood and that go
throughout their life. This is the only reason that
gives them disadvantages of social life (Umberson
and Montez 2010)
There is a relationship between obese women and
their children and showed a significant relationship
between (1) female obesity and its effect on the
creative ability of their children, and (2) children's
physical activity levels. They said that female
obesity affects the creative ability and physical
activities of their children because due to their
obesity they were not able to take part in every
type of activities of their children. So obesity in
women affects their relations with their children
(Klesges, et al. 1990).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The current study was carried out in the urban area
of Dera Ghazi Khan to know about the consequence
of obesity on social relationship of women in
district dg khan. A sample of two hundred obese
women was picked by applying the purposive
sampling technique. An interview schedule was
developed in the light of the objectives of the study
and the questions in the interview schedule were
semi structured. After that, collected data was
analyzed through SPSS and their drawn outcome
can be seen in the beneath chapter

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The goal of the study to communicate with the
respondents and to dig up their responses
regarding the significant focus to know about the
relationship of obese women in the spot light of the
objectives of the study. Major analyses are
presented below:
Table. 1: Distribution of respondents regarding affects
of Obesity on Social Relationship

Response
Frequency
Percentage
To great Extent
119
59.5%
To some Extent
62
31.0%
Not at all
19
9.5%
Total
200
100
Table illustrates that 59.5 percent of the
respondents said that obesity affects on their social
relationships to great extent, 31.0 percent of the
respondents said that obesity affects on their social
relationships to some extent and 9.5 percent of the
respondents said that obesity does not affects on
their social relationships at all. Concluding the
above we can say that obesity affects on social
relationships of obese women.
Table. 2: Distribution of respondents regarding their
Children feels Hesitation to introduce them with their
Friends

Marital Status
Frequency
Percentage
To great extent
94
47.0%
To some extent
75
37.5%
Not at all
31
15.5%
Total
200
100
Table explains that 47.0 percent of the respondents
said that their children feel hesitation to introduce
them with their friends to great extent, 37.5
percent of the respondents said that their children
feel hesitation to introduce them with their friends
to some extent and 15.5 percent of the
respondents said that their children do not feel
hesitation to introduce them with their friends at
all. Concluding the above we can say that children

of obese women feel hesitation to introduce their

mothers with their friends due to their obesity.
Table. 3: Distribution of Respondents regarding how
many Friends they have

Age
1-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20 and above
Total

Frequency

Percentage

155
5
25
9
6
200

77.5%
2.5%
12.5%
4.5%
3.0%
100

Table reflects that 77.5 percent of the respondents

have 1-4 friends, 24.5 percent of the respondents
have 5-9 friends, 12.5 percent of the respondents
have 10-14 friends, 4.5 percent of the respondents
have 15-19 friends and 3.0 percent of the
respondents have Above 20 friends. Concluding the
above we can say that obese women have fewer
friends due to their obesity.
Table. 4: Distribution of Respondents regarding
Behavior of other People towards Them

Responses
Frequency
Percentage
Friendly
15
7.5%
Sympathetic
56
28.0%
Unfriendly
34
17.0%
Criticizing
95
47.0%
Humiliating
0
0
Total
200
100
Table exposes 47.5 percent of the respondents
were criticized by other people, 28.0 percent of the
respondents gain Sympathy by other people, 17.0
percent of the respondents have unfriendly
behavior by other people and 7.5 percent of the
respondents have friendly behavior by other people
while there is no response of the respondents
about humiliating behavior. Concluding the above
we can say that majority of obese women are
criticized by other people.

Table. 5: Distribution of respondents regarding

Their friends like to go

for outing with them

People laugh at them

due to their obesity

Other people have good

response when behaving with
them
Frequency
Percentage
18
9.0%
14
7.0%
17
8.5%
56
28.0
95
47.5

Responses
Frequency
Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
Strongly agree
3
1.5%
127
63.5%
Agree
19
9.5%
43
21.5%
Neutral
21
10.5%
13
6.5%
Disagree
60
30.0
17
8.5
Strongly
97
48.5
0
0
disagree
Total
200
100
200
100
200
100
Table indicates that 48.5 percent of the
that their friends like to go for outing with them,
respondents said that they were strongly disagreed
30.0 percent of the respondents said that they

292

were disagreed that their friends like to go for

outing with them, 10.5 percent of the respondents
said that they were neutral that their friends like to
go for outing with them, 9.5 percent of the
respondents said that they were agreed that their
friends like to go for outing with them and 2.5
percent of the respondents said that they were
strongly agreed that their friends like to go for
outing with them. Concluding the above we can say
that women who are obese they have fewer friends
and they do not like to go with them for outing.
The table shows that 63.5 percent of the
respondents said that they were strongly agreed
that people laugh at them due to their obesity, 21.5
percent of the respondents said that they were
agreed that people laugh at them due to their
obesity, 6.5 percent of the respondents said that
they were neutral that people laugh at them due to
their obesity, 8.5 percent of the respondents said
that they were disagreed that people laugh at them
due to their obesity and there is no response of the
respondents about strongly disagreed. Concluding
the above we can say that people make a fun of
obese women and criticize them.
The table shows that 47.5 percent of the
respondents said that they were strongly disagreed
that other people have good response when
behaving with them, 28.0 percent of the
respondents said that they were disagreed that
other people have good response when behaving
with them, 9.0 percent of the respondents said that
they were strongly agreed that other people have
good response when behaving with them, 8.5

percent of the respondents said that they were

neutral that other people have good response
when behaving with them and 7.0 percent of the
respondents said that they were agreed that other
people have good response when behaving with
them. Concluding the above we can say that obese
women have fewer social relations and they are
ignored by the people.
Table.6: Distribution of respondents regarding they
Hesitate to speak Confidently with others due to their
Obesity

Responses
Frequency
Percentage
Strongly agree
112
56.0%
Agree
54
27.0%
Neutral
16
8.0%
Disagree
14
7.0%
Strongly disagree
4
2.0%
Total
120
100
The table demonstrate that 56.0 percent of the
respondents said that they were strongly agreed
that they hesitate to speak confidently with others,
27.0 percent of the respondents said that they
were agreed that they hesitate to speak confidently
with others, 8.0 percent of the respondents said
that they were neutral that they hesitate to speak
confidently with others, 7.0 percent of the
respondents said that they were disagreed that
they hesitate to speak confidently with others and
2.0 percent of the respondents said that they were
strongly disagreed that they hesitate to speak
confidently with others. Concluding the above we
can say that obese women hesitate to speak
confidently with others due to their obesity.

Table. 7: Distribution of respondents regarding

Complaints of people for

Not visiting them frequently

Face difficulty in
interacting with others

their ability to go
anywhere to meet others

Responses
Frequency Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
To great extent
124
62.0%
107
53.5%
19
9.5%
To some extent
69
34.5%
71
35.5%
64
37.5%
Not at all
7
3.5%
22
11.0%
117
58.5%
Total
200
100
200
100
200
100
The table shows that 62.0 percent of the
interacting with others to great extent, 35.5
respondents said that people complain for not
percent of the respondents said that they were
visiting them frequently to great extent, 34.5
facing difficulty in interacting with others to some
percent of the respondents said that people
extent and 11.0 percent of the respondents said
complain for not visiting them frequently to some
that they were not facing difficulty in interacting
extent and 3.5 percent of the respondents said that
with others at all. Concluding the above we can say
people cannot complain for not visiting them
that majority of obese women face difficulty in
frequently at all. Concluding the above we can say
interacting with others.
that obesity prevents the women to go anywhere
Table designate that 58.5 percent of the
so they face complaints by the people for not
respondents said that they were not able to easily
visiting them.
go anywhere to meet others at all, 37.5 percent of
The table shows that 53.5 percent of the
the respondents said that they were able to easily
respondents said that they were facing difficulty in
go anywhere to meet others to some extent and

293

9.5 percent of the respondents said that they were

able to easily go anywhere to meet others to great
extent. Concluding the above we can say that

obesity makes the women dull and due to this

obesity they were not able to go easily anywhere to
meet others.

Table. 8: Association of affects of Obesity on Social Relationship and they Hesitate to Speak Confidently with others
due to Obesity

They hesitate to speak confidently with others due to

their obesity

Affects of obesity on social

relationship

To great
extent

To some
extent

% within affects of
obesity on social
relationship
% within affects of
obesity on social
relationship

Not at all
% within affects of
obesity on social
relationship
Total

% within affects of
obesity on social
relationship
Chi-Square value = 216.642a
** = Highly Significant

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Total

112

119

94.1%

5.9%

.0%

.0%

.0%

100.0%

28

16

14

62

.0%

45.2%

25.8%

22.6%

6.5%

100.0%

19

19

.0%

100.0%

.0%

.0%

.0%

100.0%

112

54

16

14

200

56.0%

27.0%

8.0%

7.0%

2.0%

100.0%

df = 8

Above table give details the result from the cross

tabulation of the two variables, those are Affects
of obesity on social relationship and They
hesitate to speak confidently with others due to
their obesity, resulted that the relationship
between the two variables is highly significant and
the alternative hypothesis is accepted because the
p-value is .000. Table represents that there is
association between the selected tow variables
(Affects of obesity on social relationship / They
hesitate to speak confidently with others due to
their obesity).
CONCLUSION
From beginning to end in present research, it was
found that 59.5 percent of the respondents said
that obesity affects on their social relationships to
great extent, 31.0 percent of the respondents said
that obesity affects on their social relationships to
some extent. A big number of respondent said that
their children feel hesitation to introduce them in
front of others and percentage was 94. Out of 200
respondents, 155 claimed that they have only few
friends. 47% of the respondent was in the stat of

Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) = .000**

feeling shame that they always criticize by the other

people and that is embarrassing all the time for
them. 48.5% said that their friends always disagree
with them to go outside and 127 respondents said
that people use to laugh at them just because of
their obesity. A big amount of respondents denied
that people behaving with them in good mode or
pleasant mode. 112 respondents strongly agreed
on that they always feel hesitate to speak with
others and there were only 4 respondent who deny
this argument, though they were obese too. 62%
complaint that people do not visit them frequently
because of their obese and interacting with other is
also a big problem for them. 58.5% gave their
response that they do not go anywhere for outing
or shopping
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