Summary: Is it a disease or a lifestyle problem? examines whether or not obesity is a treatable disease or a result of poor diet and lack of exercise. While the jury is still out on the matter what is definitely true is the world, not just any one country, is getting fatter and we are not taking action to stop it because we are to busy trying to figure out who is at fault. The article argues that it is time for these debates to conclude and to start taking action before things get worse. 30 years ago only the wealthiest people were becoming more obese but since then we have seen a rise in people who are overweight or obese in the middle and lower class as well. It is costing the world an estimated 2 trillion dollars a year to treat obesity and its related disease. Analysis: This article is not from a journal and not peer reviewed, it does reference peer reviewed journal articles for its facts and statistics so those figures are reliable. The big question from this article is what should we do? It argues that its time for action and time to end the idle debate but what is that action? What should we be doing? Is that not the very thing that we are debating and cannot come to a conclusion on? If we are being forced to make a decision how can we make the best one that compromises our American values the least while making a dramatic difference? Reflection: This article certainly calls for action to reverse the obesity epidemic like many other articles I have read do. It suggests many of the same ideas to do so such as government regulation and education to the individual. It also says the food and beverage industries should take actions to self regulate. It acknowledges that obesity is a complicated problem starting from how we define and the way through to how we handle it. Almost every article I have read agrees that obesity rates are rising in every group but young children and more action is necessary to stop this trend both for the individuals affected as well as the enormous cost associated. Kiener, Robert. "Obesity." CQ Researcher 11 June 2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.
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Summary: Sugar Controversies demonizes sugar because it has no nutrional value and is consumed way to much in the American diet. It looks at New York's former mayor Michael Bloomberg and his decision to limit the size of sugary sodas sold within the city. He justified the ban by saying that type 2 diabetes and other obesity related diseases are directly related to consumption of sugar and sodas are one of the biggest providers of sugar in the American diet. Healthcare costs was a leading reason why the ban was enacted, claiming that an estimated 4 billion dollars a year is spent in New York city alone on obesity related diseases. The ban had a massive amount of pushback from both the people it was constricting and the business that were having their sales limited. Those against the ban argued that they were able to take care of themselves and should not have their choice limited by the government. The opposition also pointed out that while sugary drinks may contribute they are not the only cause and "The cause of obesity is 100 times more scientifically complicated than that of heart disease, so focusing on any one food as the key driver of higher obesity rates is not intellectually serious" said Mike Gibney, a professor of food and health at University College Dublin in Ireland. This article focused on whether or not government should regulate foods that are linked to obesity and there is no simple answer. Analysis: This article discuses how bad sugar is and its link to obesity but it provides little new information. It does raise controversial topics like what the governments role should be in limiting sugar intake in America, assuming they have a role to play here at all. If the government does regulate sugary foods what foods should they control and to what extent? This is a peer reviewed article from a journal so it is credible. Reflection: This article like others I have read asks if it is the governments place to control the consumption of sugary foods. Like many other articles the argument made is that obesity cost the taxpayer and therefore should be regulated. Smoking, drinking, driving, unplanned pregnancies, and even sun tanning (which can increase one's risk of developing skin cancer) all cost the taxpayer money. Does this mean we should have policies limiting the time we can spend in a car per week, or outside? Every citizen in America has the right to make decisions for themselves and with this freedom come the responsibility of living with the consequences whatever they might be. Is it right to limit our individual freedom even if it is potentially for the good of everyone? Clemmitt, Marcia. "Sugar Controversies." CQ Researcher 30 Nov. 2012: 1013-36. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.
Quoted in Trevor Butterworth, “The Sugar Wars: Science's Fierce, Geeky Debate Over Soda,” The Awl, Oct. 8, 2012. Summary: Twin Mice May Provide Clues to Cures looks at mice in a laboratory environment. These particular mice tend to have vast differences in the twins. One of the twins can be skinny with brown fur while the other is obese with yellow fur. Using Epigenetics, the study of genetic control via factors outside of a person's DNA sequence, scientists have discovered a methyl group bonded to DNA in a gene that controls weight of the mouse. In a normal weight mouse the gene was turned off with a methyl group bonded to it. When not present the gene was turned on and makes a mouse much more likely to be obese even when controlling for factors like diet and exercise. Analysis: From this article it brings the focus of the obesity epidemic back to genetics. While not found yet, is it possible that there are genes inside the human genome that control a persons weight? Could solving obesity be as simple as a doctor giving a shot that would turn of a specific gene? Even if we could do this, would it be ethical? Could there be long term consequences to changing the evolution of mankind? This article focuses on research done at Duke and is part of a journal. It has been peer reviewed and is a reliable source of information. Reflection: With every new piece of data from each new article the obesity epidemic seems to grow more complex. This article seems to say that there is very little one can do, if such genes exist in the humans, to maintain a healthy weight. While evidence shows that food can cause obesity can a healthy diet help everyone? Exercise is also crucial to health but can proper exercise help everyone maintain an ideal weight? Will finding and changing the genes that cause obesity make everyone healthy? I think the answer is as complex as the human body, there is no simple answer rather a combination of all the factors will lead to the end of the obesity epidemic. Adams, Jill U. "Manipulating the Human Genome." CQ Researcher 19 June 2015: 529-52. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.
Summary: Food Policy Debates by Robert Kiener delves into many aspects of the American diet including what the average American's nutritional intake is and if the government should regulate what Americans are allowed to purchase when it come to unhealthy food and drinks. He also discusses what influence the federal government should have on school lunches. Kiener remains fairly neutral on the issue and presents both sides but while being very factual it would appear that Kiener is against more government regulation because it should be the individuals responsibility to take care of themselves and be responsible for their actions. Analysis: This is a very reliable source of information because it is current and has been peer reviewed. It also pulls from many sources for its data. While I was already familiar with the fact that Americans diet is generally unhealthy I did learn about some attempts to regulate food through taxes. I also became learned more about what is considered a healthy food beyond just the nutrional value, looking at other factors like how the food was grown and if it is natural or not. The government has began regulating some artificial foods that have proven to be unhealthy and lead to weight gain such as trans fats. Looking deeper into the American diet has helped to make a more complete picture as it shows that while genetics and a sedentary lifestyle may lead to weight gain, the food we eat or don't eat is equally important to stopping obesity in America. Reflection: This article acknowledges that there are many factors that contribute to obesity. Kiener points towards diet as being a major factor in obesity and many articles say diet is one of the biggest contributors to obesity. This is another article that considers the government regulating food and other factors that lead to obesity. Kiener, Robert. "Food Policy Debates." CQ Researcher 3 Oct. 2014: 817-40. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.
“Rabobank: Fruit and vegetable consumption falls despite government efforts to promote health,” Rabobank, July 4, 2013 Summary: Obesity Epidemic discusses individuals who have tried and failed to lose weight. The article talks about gastric bypass and its effects. This article also discusses the rising cost of healthcare to treat obesity related diseases. Factors such as the type of food popular in the American diet and the communities we live in that promote driving instead of walking and even the fact that children are spending less time outside playing and more time inside playing games. The article focuses on diet of American and which states have the highest obesity rates. It also looks at the genetics of obesity, examining the "thrifty gene" that allows individuals to store more fat during times of feasting. While this gene gives a great advantage when food is scarce it can store more fat than is good for an individual during times where food is not scarce. Analysis: This article is the first time I've heard mention of a specific gene that can make individuals more prone to obesity. It also offers a detailed look at the American diet and what aspects of it promote obesity in America. It makes a complete picture of the Americans plight for weight loss, discussing how fast food and lack of exercise combined with genes that make it easy to add body fat makes for a realistic understanding of the American obesity epidemic. Reflection: This article shares certain fact like rising healthcare cost with other articles I've read. It also offers new information like how gene affect body fat and an analysis of high fat foods, especially fast food chains. The addition of this article continues to make a bigger picture allowing for a better understanding of why and how American are so likely to become obese and what we can do to manage our weight. Greenblatt, Alan. "Obesity Epidemic." CQ Researcher 31 Jan. 2003: 73-104. Web. 7 Feb. 2017.
Summary: Obesity by Michelle Johnson looks at the big picture of America's obesity crisis. By examining the obesity rates among different groups of people and looking for where change is making progress. The article discusses what is being done by American companies and governments to help combat obesity. Soda manufactures have begun placing the calories per container in easy to see places to raise awareness of caloric intake. The government is implementing healthy school lunches to help curb childhood obesity. They have received backlash from parents claiming that their children are being starved at school and not being given enough choice. Obesity rates are only falling among very young children. Healthcare costs are continuing to rise due to illness that is directly related to obesity such as diabetes, heart failure, sleep apnea, etc... Analysis: The article offers insight to what the current obesity rates in America and if our efforts are helping to stop the climbing obesity rates. It gathers numbers on the annual spending on healthcare in America according to its sources. This source is gives credible facts because they are gathered from reliable sources but it can try to mislead the facts significance by not considering all aspects of the data. Reflection: This article gives good information to show how serious a situation the American population is in. It allows for a better understanding of other articles by filling in pieces of information that a reader may otherwise not have. Johnson, Michelle. "Obesity." CQ Researcher 13 May 2014. Web. 7 Feb. 2017.
U.S. Adult Obesity Rate, 2008-2015. [Circa 2015], Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Summary: This study delves into the relationship between obesity and the quality of sleep each individual gets on an average night. The research shows that people who get a lower quality of sleep tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI) and the more hours per week an individual works the less likely they are to get quality sleep. The quality of an individual's sleep is determined by the time spent asleep and if there were any interruptions during sleep such as snoring, coughing, and other factors to wake an individual during their resting hours. Analysis: This study proves that sleep is vital to a person's overall health and definitely can contribute to weight gain. The study was done on Australians but remains relevant because Australia and America both have high rates of obesity. The source is reliable and has been peer reviewed. It is interesting to consider that not only how much sleep a person get per night but the quality of that sleep is what really matters. Reflection: This article remains that Obesity is an epidemic and there are many causes. It suggests that sleep is a major factor in the Obesity crisis. Citation: Magee, Christopher A., et al. "Sleep Quality Subtypes And Obesity." Health Psychology 35.12 (2016): 1289-1297. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 7 Feb. 2017.
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AuthorDillon Rhew Archives |