*The body

The concept of 'the body' is closely related to the ideas of 'illness' and 'health'.

All of us exist in 'bodies' of different shapes, heights, colours and physical abilities. The main reasons for the differences are genetic, and the fact that people's bodies change as they age. However, a huge range of research indicates that there are social factors too.

Poorer people are more likely to eat 'unhealthy' foods, to smoke cigarettes and to be employed in repetitive, physically difficult work, or the opposite: boring, inactive employment.

Moreover, their housing conditions and neighbourhoods tend to be worse. All of these factors impact upon the condition of a person's health: the physical shapes of bodies are strongly influenced by social factors.

These social factors are also closely linked to emotional wellbeing. People with low or no incomes are more likely to have mental health problems. It is not clear, however, whether poverty causes mental illness, or whether it is the other way around. For example, certain people with mental health issues may be at risk of becoming homeless, just as a person who is homeless may have an increased risk of illnesses such as depression.

There are other types of social factors too. Bodies are young or old, short or tall, big or small, weak or strong. Whether these judgments matter and whether they are positive or negative depends on the cultural and historical context. The culture and media of different societies promote very different valuations of body shapes. What is considered as attractive or ugly, normal or abnormal varies enormously. Currently, for example, in rich societies the ideal of slimness is highly valued, but historically this was different. In most societies the ideal body shape for a woman was a 'full figure' with a noticeable belly, while in middle-aged men, a large stomach indicated that they were financially successful in life. In many traditional African and Pacific island cultures, for example, a large body shape was a sign of success and a shape to be aimed at.

It is easy for people to feel undervalued because of factors they have no power to change, for example, their age and height. Equally, they can feel pressured into making changes to their appearance - when it is possible to make such changes - which in extreme cases can lead to obsessions with weight loss and fitness regimes.

Sociologists, then, are suggesting that we should not just view bodies and minds in biological terms, but also in social terms. The physical body and what we seek to do with it change over time. This has important implications for medicine and ideas of health. Thus, the idea of people being 'obese' is physically related to large amounts of processed food, together with lack of exercise, and is therefore a medical issue. However, it has also become a mental health issue and social problem as a result of people coming to define this particular body shape as 'wrong' and unhealthy.

Questions 1-10: Using NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS for each, answer the following questions.
In what ways do our bodies physically differ?
Why do our bodies differ physically?
What types of jobs are poor people likely to have?
What aspects of poor people's living environments are not good?
What influences how groups of people value bodies?
What have wealthy cultures changed their opinion about?
In the past, what part of the body could indicate that people were rich?
According to sociologists, in what ways should we think about the body?
Which two physical factors contribute to whether people are obese or not?
What does society say that being obese is?

Question

*The body

The concept of &#x27;the body&#x27; is closely related to the ideas of &#x27;illness&#x27; and &#x27;health&#x27;.

All of us exist in &#x27;bodies&#x27; of different shapes, heights, colours and physical abilities. The main reasons for the differences are genetic, and the fact that people&#x27;s bodies change as they age. However, a huge range of research indicates that there are social factors too.

Poorer people are more likely to eat &#x27;unhealthy&#x27; foods, to smoke cigarettes and to be employed in repetitive, physically difficult work, or the opposite: boring, inactive employment.

Moreover, their housing conditions and neighbourhoods tend to be worse. All of these factors impact upon the condition of a person&#x27;s health: the physical shapes of bodies are strongly influenced by social factors.

These social factors are also closely linked to emotional wellbeing. People with low or no incomes are more likely to have mental health problems. It is not clear, however, whether poverty causes mental illness, or whether it is the other way around. For example, certain people with mental health issues may be at risk of becoming homeless, just as a person who is homeless may have an increased risk of illnesses such as depression.

There are other types of social factors too. Bodies are young or old, short or tall, big or small, weak or strong. Whether these judgments matter and whether they are positive or negative depends on the cultural and historical context. The culture and media of different societies promote very different valuations of body shapes. What is considered as attractive or ugly, normal or abnormal varies enormously. Currently, for example, in rich societies the ideal of slimness is highly valued, but historically this was different. In most societies the ideal body shape for a woman was a &#x27;full figure&#x27; with a noticeable belly, while in middle-aged men, a large stomach indicated that they were financially successful in life. In many traditional African and Pacific island cultures, for example, a large body shape was a sign of success and a shape to be aimed at.

It is easy for people to feel undervalued because of factors they have no power to change, for example, their age and height. Equally, they can feel pressured into making changes to their appearance - when it is possible to make such changes - which in extreme cases can lead to obsessions with weight loss and fitness regimes.

Sociologists, then, are suggesting that we should not just view bodies and minds in biological terms, but also in social terms. The physical body and what we seek to do with it change over time. This has important implications for medicine and ideas of health. Thus, the idea of people being &#x27;obese&#x27; is physically related to large amounts of processed food, together with lack of exercise, and is therefore a medical issue. However, it has also become a mental health issue and social problem as a result of people coming to define this particular body shape as &#x27;wrong&#x27; and unhealthy.

Questions 1-10: Using NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS for each, answer the following questions.
In what ways do our bodies physically differ?    
Why do our bodies differ physically?    
What types of jobs are poor people likely to have?
What aspects of poor people&#x27;s living environments are not good?
What influences how groups of people value bodies?
What have wealthy cultures changed their opinion about?
In the past, what part of the body could indicate that people were rich?
According to sociologists, in what ways should we think about the body?
Which two physical factors contribute to whether people are obese or not?
What does society say that being obese is?

Phutho · Accepted Answer

Using NO MORE THAN FOUR WORD
1.Shapes, heights, colors, abilities.
2.Genetics, aging, social factors.
3.Repetitive, physically difficult work.
4.Housing conditions, neighborhoods.
5.Cultural, historical context.
6.Ideal body shapes.
7.Large stomach.
8.Biological and social terms.
9.Diet, exercise.
10.Wrong, unhealthy.

Timi · Answer

1. Our bodies physically differ in shapes, heights, colors, and physical abilities.
2. Our bodies differ physically due to genetic factors and aging.
3. Poor people are likely to have repetitive, physically difficult jobs or boring, inactive employment.
4. Poor people&#x27;s living environments may have worse housing conditions and neighborhoods.
5. The culture and media influence how groups of people value bodies.
6. Wealthy cultures have changed their opinion about the ideal body shape, currently valuing slimness.
7. In the past, a large stomach indicated that people were rich.
8. According to sociologists, we should think about the body in social terms as well as biological terms.
9. Lack of exercise and large amounts of processed food contribute to obesity.
10. Society says that being obese is wrong and unhealthy.

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