Summary: Obesity and Health is an older article that looks at the cheap, often unhealthy and oversized, food choices at fast food restaurants in America. It points out how for less than five dollars you can go to almost any restaurant and get a meal. This level of convenience is not so good for the American waistline. We have grown accustomed to oversized meals that are high in fat with a sugary soda to wash it all down with. This is only one side of the issue though. Americans have less physical activity than ever, sitting behind a desk for eight or even twelve hours a day does not promote good health. This affects Americans lifespan and leads to a rise in healthcare cost. This article also looks beyond just the health cost and what factors contribute to it, discussing the social issues around obesity. It claims that obese people often have low self-esteem and are less likely to get married and have professional success. The article looks at if drugs should be used to treat obesity and what role our genes play in the likelihood that a person will be obese. Analysis: This source has brought information about the low funds allocated in the National institute of health (NIH) to obesity when compared to other health problems. This means that the government is not taking obesity as the series crisis that it is. I also learned about "off-label use" which happens when a physician prescribes a drug for something other than what the FDA and drug manufacture original designed it for. The FDA does not do a good tracking old medicines so they can often cause undesirable health consequences for the patient. The source is reliable because it comes from a journal and has been peer reviewed; however, some of the information may be out dated and no longer relevant because of the age of the article. Reflection: This source looks at many of the same things as the other articles such as drugs used to treat obesity, the diet related factors that contribute to weight gain, as well as the lack of exercise the average American have. This article examines the misuse of drugs to try and combat obesity and looks at the low funds allocated to research related to obesity. Like other article it supports the idea that genetics play a role in causing obesity. Bettelheim, A. (1999, January 15). Obesity and health. CQ Researcher, 9, 25-48. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/
0 Comments
Summary: The article Obesity argues that as a country we are not doing enough to stop the obesity epidemic. The article believes the government needs to take more action to stop obesity and reverse the trends. This article reflects upon the rising costs of healthcare related to treating obesity in America. This article targets the soda industry and blames them for lobbying against major restrictions and bas to soda and other sugary drinks. It also mentions surgical options for those who are struggling with obesity as well as a pill but argues that the surgery is often a bigger risk than it is worth and there simply are not enough pills or evidence of them working to be an effective solution. Analysis: This source shows evidence of some bias and the information gathered from it have to fact checked as it has not been peer reviewed. This article does claim that the obesity rates among children and young adults have begun to level off. This claim contradicts what other articles have stated however this is a more recent article than some of the other I have used. Reflection: Along with my other sources this article blames many of the same factors for causing the obesity epidemic in America such as overeating, lack of exercise, sugary foods, cost of healthy food options, and desk jobs. This article does not delve into the topic of genetics or sleep patterns, probably because of the lack of research that has been done in these areas. Valbrun, Marjorie ."Obesity." CQ Researcher 15 June 2013. Web. 6 Mar. 2017.
Summary: The article Eating Disorders argues that obesity should be classified as a mental disorder along with binge eating. In part they want it classified as a mental disease because they believe that it would be easier to get insurance companies to pay for treatment if it was a defined disease. A binge eater consumes large amounts of food at one time and does not feel like they can stop but does not try to get rid of the food as a bulimic person would. In part they blame society for normalizing binge eating with "super sized" options and other abnormally large portions. Binge eating can lead to obesity and share many of the same health risks. Not all physicians agree however that binge eating or obesity should be classified as a mental disorder. They disagree because they believe and individual must show a change in body image or behavior for it to be classified as a mental disorder. Analysis: This article is reliable because it has been peer reviewed and published in a journal. It is approximately 10 years old so some evidence may no longer be in question and other thoughts may have been proven wrong by now. Before I read through this article I had never thought of obesity as a mental disorder so this article has shed new light in this manner. This source makes me wonder if obesity is truly a mental disease if there is a medical solution to solve it when it is caught early, before it leaves and physical marks on a body. Reflection: This article agrees with the other articles in my research because it believes that obesity should be classified as a disease so that it can best be addressed and treated. It also acknowledges the startling high percentage of Americans who are overweight or obese and blames the normalizing of the oversized portions of food in America. It also thinks that genes play a role in causing obesity. This article also blames a lack of exercise as a clear contributor to weight gain. This article also agrees that not enough funds are being allocated to research to stop obesity in America. Prah, P. M. (2006, February 10). Eating disorders. CQ Researcher, 16, 121-144. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/
Summary: The article discusses the rising obesity rates in America, especially among the poor. It also considers how are understanding of the condition has evolved and what factors make poor Americans more likely to become overweight or obese. The research presented in this article also blames the high cost of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables with the low cost of junk food that can fill bellies on a budget. However, this cannot be the entire reason because products like skim milk and whole milk as well as diet and regular soda cost about the same but research shows poorer people consume more of the whole milk and regular soda whereas more affluent people consume more skim milk and diet soda. This goes to show the health education matters too. The article doesn't ignore wealthier Americans either looking at trends that show we are eating out more and making less home cooked meals. Our portions sizes are also growing both at home and at restaurants. Combine the growing portion of foods with the shrinking sizes of healthy items on the plate and it leaves little question as to why American are becoming so overweight as a society. Analysis: The information gathered from this article is considered reliable because it has been peer reviewed and published in a journal. From this article I learned that the federal government gives subsides to farmers for growing certain types of foods. This may sound like a good thing at first but the problem with this is it makes growing unsubsidized foods like fruits and vegetables less profitable. Since there are less healthy foods it means the market demand for this type of food is higher making the prices go up. This directly impacts the poorest families because it prices healthy foods out of their budgets. This article also shows that the more educated a person becomes the less likely they are to be or become obese. Why? Is it because they make more money and can afford to buy healthier foods? Is it because they have a better understanding of what our bodies need and can therefore prepare healthier and more accurately sized meals? Or could it be stress related? More research is needed to answer this questions but they could hold the answer to reversing Americas rising obesity rates. Reflection: This article, like many others, thinks the American diet is a major factor in the American obesity epidemic. It blames the cheap cost of sugary foods and the high cost of healthy foods. The blame also goes on the targeted advertising of sugary foods towards kids. Like others this article acknowledges the growing size of the average American plate both in the home and when we eat out, which happens more and more often. Soft drinks are another red flag item in this article. It is a staple of unhealthy eating habits and is one of the worst things we can intake. It crams so many empty calories into a small container and studies show that children who often consume sugary drinks are much more likely to be obese. Mantel, Barbara. "Preventing Obesity." CQ Researcher 1 Oct. 2010: 797-820. Web. 6 Mar. 2017.
|
AuthorDillon Rhew Archives |