The real problem, therefore, is not the technology but the way it is exploited for corporate profit. Then there is a psychological impact on those people who suffer weight problems. Studies show that obese individuals tend to lead socially isolated lives. They do less well academically, have poorer job prospects and lower self-esteem. They feel less attractive.
Weight problems have particularly damaging effects on children.
One study found that they see obesity as a disability worse than losing a limb. At the same time, those on low incomes are less able to afford the promoted, usually very expensive, products, services and treatments. It is understandable that obese people can become depressed and blame themselves for their failure to achieve the desired thinness. People who suffer emotional distress can turn to food to suppress their feelings, only exacerbating the problem. Some studies also show that genetic factors contribute to obesity, although estimates vary considerably from 5 percent to 40 percent of obesity cases.