Locus of Control & Obesity

Hope Speek

Professor Laurie Gill

Health & Wellness

October 20, 2018

Locus of control & Obesity

Summary-

Locus of control is the utmost studied personality constructs in the social sciences. This idea was conceived by Julian Rotter. Locus of control (LOC) reflects the degree to which an individual sees outcomes as being related to personal behaviors versus external factors. In the article Locus of control and Obesity by Florence Neymotin and Louis R. Nemzer, it states, LOC and obesity have a disciplinary relationship which is the interaction between the hunger system in our brains, an individual perceived locus of control, and the risk of obesity. “Perceived locus of control” believes to oversee the events that affect them. The Article states that obesity rates have skyrocketed and they are seeking for more information about the risk factors. Two types of LOC, an Internal locus is the belief that one’s behavior or characteristics control events. External locus is the belief that these events are controlled by forces outside oneself.

    The relationship between Locus of control and obesity indicates whether an individual believes that their environment and choices are under their control. At what time one gets the cues of hunger, the ability to interpret those cues will determine how obesity develops. The article states part of the medical reasoning of obesity which lends credibility to the point of view that obesity is not constantly the result of “willpower” deficiency or related to one’s personal locus of control. That is, in the cases of a hereditary defect in the hunger/satiation neuronal. Negative health outcomes are difficult to avoid in the absence of specific interventions. In conclusion, the author states that the correlation between locus of control and obesity has not been tested.

Neymotin, F., & Nemzer, L. R. (2014). Locus of Control and Obesity. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2014.00159

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4188137/

Evaluation-

Authority: The authors of the article Florence Neymotin and Louis R. Nemzer are widely acknowledged in the subject of endocrinology. All the 49 references are listed at the end of the article giving it a sense of certainty and credibility. Each author has written a second article on obesity and relationships with other aspects. The authors have the authority to write an article on the correlation between obesity and Locus of control due to their overabundance of credible editors, and past was written knowledge on the subject throughout the years.

Sources: Throughout the article, the authors give footnotes that directs the focus of the reader to the end of where all the citations and editors are listed. The documentation is credible due to it originating from dates within a 10-year time frame. In conclusion, the article has very potent sources and cited correct documentation that shadows the subject.

Purpose: This article was intended to inform and explain. It stretches the full understanding of knowledge in the fields of genetics, endocrinology, psychology, sociology, economics, and public policy. The article wasn’t focused on specific audiences, anyone can read it without knowing anything about endocrinology, the locus of control, or obesity. In conclusion, this article doesn’t have a targeted audience and was written to inform people about the relationships linking obesity and LOC.

Evenness: The focus of the article is geared toward the correlation of obesity and LOC. Although the author gives a strong view of their research, at the end of the article the author gives 1-2 paragraphs about an opposing position. Thus, stating the author is bias in a majority of the article but, they acknowledge the other point of view towards the last few paragraphs.

Coverage: The article was published in 2014, and the author's other exertions were also published within 2014-2017 proving that their knowledge on the information is still practiced. The information and sources gave just the right amount to make it relevant needed to fully understand the topic. This concludes that the article has full detailed coverage on all the information given.