Group+One

=Group One - Wiki Two=


 * Author’s Main Question: ** 

**Findings: ** 

**Summary: ** 

=​Group One - Wiki One=

=INTRODUCTION:= Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. We have studied and researched the health problem and viewed different statistics on the subject. The articles provided us with reasons as to why the rising obesity may be occurring. Some of the few are gender, age, socioeconomic status, racial or ethnic groups, or geographic regions. The articles provided statistics and ratings that prove their beliefs on the subject. The articles, also, present preventions to the growing health problem.

=THEORIES:= Along with reading the articles, we have created our own theories to the issue at hand. We have found some of our theories to match those of the articles. The social conflict theory, which emphasizes the distribution of power and allocation of resources, is the theory we thought would fit best with the obesity issue. We put into perspective the status quo people may establish and follow. Another aspect we considered is the socioeconomic status of people. Which class has more obese people? We thought the rich may have less since they can afford the expensive equipment, organic food, and personal trainers to stay in shape. One more issue we would study that may effect the growing obesity epidemic is home life. Would someone with a harsh home-life and with stressful situations tend to eat more? As a group, we have brainstormed different ideas as to why obesity is a growing epidemic in America, and have come to find some are actual real reasons according to statistics found in the articles.

=LITERATURE REVIEW:= Obesity has become a growing problem in the United States since the 1970's (Wang and Beydoun). There are many factors that contribute to obesity. Namely, race/ethnicity, lower income and education, location, age, gender, common foods, and technology (Wang and Beydoun; Finkelstein, Ruhm, and Kosa).

Asian Americans have a much lower occurrence of obesity, about one fifth of the men and one to four percent of the total fifteen percent of women in America (Wang and Beydoun). Black women were found to be about twice as obese as compared to White and Mexican-American women.

Lower income and education level directly correlates with obesity. “The prevalence of obesity were 27.4 percent, 23.2 percent, 21.0 percent, and 15.7 percent for persons with less than a high school education, a high school degree, some college, and college or above, respectively" (Wang and Beydoun). Also, for lower income families they cannot afford the same fitness club memberships and healthy food as their richer counterparts can.

The environment where a person lives has the ability to impact their weight gain. In the southeastern United States there is the highest prevalence of obesity in the country (Wang and Beydoun). This might have to do with cultural foods, typical jobs, or lifestyles in that part of the U.S.

It has been shown that age and gender play a large part in determining obesity. Men have a lower rate of obesity than women and according to the NHANES, kids ages 2-5 had an increase from 7.2 to 10.3 percent obesity ages 6-11 increased by triple the amount from 6.5 to 15.8 percent. Aged 12-19 obesity prevailed from 5.0 percent to 16.1 percent (Wang and Beydoun).

We believe that a large part of determining obesity has to do with foods consumed. Until recently,  obesity was almost unheard of as many more people were suffering from the lack of food rather than too much of it. However, now obesity is the second leading cause of death at 400,000 causalities every year (Finkelstein et. al). Why is that? The number of calories taken in has increased, due partially to snacking (Finkelstein et. al). It has also become the case that the prices of healthy, non-processed foods have increased (Finkelstein et. al), thus allowing rich people the luxury of affording them while poorer people cannot, and thus the poor people have higher rates of obesity. Serving sizes have also increased, “the trend toward large portion sizes, perhaps due to falling food prices, [that] only serves to exacerbate this problem” (Finkelstein et. al).

Out of all these contributing factors, technology has been labeled as "primarily responsible" (Finkelstein et. al). Television is not necessarily the problem, rather it seems that computers, video games, and snacks consumed while watching shows has the bigger affect (Finkelstein et. al). Many people recognize this and are starting to take action.

The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, collaborate with towns and communities to fight the growing obesity epidemic. They recommend different strategies to aid in the prevention of obesity on the community level, specifically in the United States. It exposes the rising obesity epidemic by stating statistics that can no longer be ignored:

“Approximately two thirds of U.S. adults and one fifth of U.S. children are obese or overweight. During 1980–2004, obesity prevalence among U.S. adults doubled, and recent data indicate an estimated 33% of U.S. adults are overweight, 34% are obese, including nearly 6% who are extremely obese. The prevalence of being overweight among children and adolescents increased substantially during 1999–2004, and approximately 17% of U.S. children and adolescents are overweight” (Kahn et. al 2009; 1).

The CDC continues to inform the reader of the many health risks involved; “Being either obese or overweight increases the risk for many chronic diseases [for example,] heart disease, type [two] diabetes, certain cancers, and stroke” (Kahn et. al 2009; 1). The article then specifies the problem, “although diet and exercise are key determinants of weight, environmental factors beyond the control of individuals (including lack of access to full-service grocery stores, high costs of healthy foods, and lack of access to safe places to play and exercise) contribute to increased obesity rates by reducing the likelihood of healthy eating and active living behaviors” (Kahn et. al 2009; 1-2). This statement emphasizes the social conflict perspective and appropriately states the factors that can only be improved at the community and local level.

The most compelling and pertinent strategies involve the promotion of healthy food and beverage choices, and making widely available healthy food options that are affordable for the lower class and those in poverty stricken areas. This includes lowering the prices of healthier foods and beverages, “and providing discount coupons, vouchers redeemable for healthier foods, and bonuses tied to the purchase of healthier foods. Pricing strategies create incentives for purchasing and consuming healthier foods and beverages by lowering the prices of such items relative to less healthy foods” (Kahn et. al 2009; 7). Pricing strategies can be used in schools. For instance, “decreasing the prices of healthier foods sold in vending machines and in cafeterias and increasing the price of less healthy foods and beverages at concession stands” (Kahn et. al 2009; 7).

Research has also stated that more than half of the television advertisements that children watch are food related; making a push to limit the number of said advertisements in government facilities and schools; with the hopes that other communities will follow suit, so that the kids are no longer bombarded with unhealthy fast food commercials.

Backed up by constant research, other strategies work to encourage and mandate physical activity among children and youth, as well as the push for developing safe places to play and exercise. They propose several changes in sidewalks, bike lanes, as well as a “half-mile network distance of at least one outdoor public recreational facility [from a residential community]” (Kahn et. al 2009; 17). The problem is the town and the communities need to have money and resources in order to keep their towns safe. America tends to place factories in lower income areas, making the air nearly un-breathable for children with asthma, who are trying to play on the playground that is in the middle of two factories. These types of things need to be addressed, and the social conflict perspective looks at who is suffering and attempts to change the problem.

The CDC calls for the state government to create polices that will work to prevent obesity in children and decrease the current statistics. School districts could collaborate with The Center for Disease Control to increase the amount of physical activity among the students in the public school system. Changes such as requiring that Physical Education be a part of the school curriculum as well as a requirement of, “a minimum of 150 minutes per week of PE in public elementary schools and a minimum of 225 minutes per week of PE in public middle schools and high schools throughout the school year as recommended by the National Association of Sports and Physical Education in 2006” (Kahn et. al 2009; 14). However it costs money to have PE programs and schools with more money have been able to implement this with resources such as gym equipment, teachers, coaches, and even a gym. A strategy to encourage breastfeeding is one of the most intriguing, as noted evidence states that “Breastfeeding has been linked to decreased risk of pediatric overweight in multiple epidemiologic studies” (Kahn et. al 2009; 13). Encouraging breastfeeding could be as simple as designating private places specifically for women to breastfeed their infants.

A generation ago, women were told by the industry that you were not a good mother if you breastfed your child, and the only way to properly nourish your child was to use baby formula. Who profits? The industry; they banked on women who decided not to breastfeed because of these advertisements. Studies on the health benefits are striking; there is a push to bring back breastfeeding your children. However the billions that the formula people are making allots for this power struggle of who benefits and who suffers from this current system; obviously obese children are suffering. Such changes like the promoting the health benefits of breastfeeding could increase the number of women who choose to breastfeed their babies. This change could then lend to a decrease in current obesity rates. One can clearly see who suffers in the current system as far as obesity rates in the lower classes as well as their limited accessibility to healthy foods. Communities can work to lower obesity rates by making changes so that those who currently cannot benefit will soon be able to. The structure of our society could aid rather than hurt obesity statistics if communities work toward the prevention of obesity and the recovery of healthy lifestyles.

=METHODS:=

There are many ways to research why obesity occurs. We could observe people who are on welfare and see if their low income has a correlation to obesity. We could also look at the income of obese people and compare these two findings. Another thing to observe would be the classes of people who play sports. It is a thought that perhaps people on a higher income play sports more than poor people and therefore get the extra exercise. This might be a good thing to research to see if costly equipment and personal trainers has in impact on obesity rates. We should also observe the price of food. The price of healthy food has increased and is less available to poor people. For a cheap meal it's easy to stop at McDonald's, and if one does this often enough there is a high chance of obesity. One last thing to observe would be the stress between the rich and the poor and how they handle the food intake. When a person is stressed, do they eat it out? Or perhaps they burn it off at the gym. This would be an interesting thing to explore.

There are many aspects that are still unexplored in regards to the growing problem of obesity in the United States. We should all do our part by spreading awareness to people, in hopes that everyone will consciously make an effort to stop this unfortunate calamity.

Article One:
Youfa Wang and May A. Beydoun The Obesity Epidemic in the United States—Gender, Age, Socioeconomic, Racial/Ethnic, and Geographic Characteristics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis  Obesity is on the rise! Through multiple researches on obesity, national studies show that obesity is a constant growth in America ever since the 1970’s (Page 1).According to World Health Organization, obesity is a disease to which a person has to much body fat that affects the person’s heath in a negative way. Through a simple set of math calculations any one can determine if he or she is overweight or obese. This process is called Body Mass Index (B.M.I.) Another way to determine obesity is by measuring the waist circumference which is tested to be more sufficient than the BMI (Page 2).But the real question that this article stresses is how obesity affects every gender, age, class status, racial/ethnic groups, and areas around the United States. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Findings: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Racial/ethnic obesity differs between each group. Asian Americans obesity is much lower than national average. Only one fifth of the Asian American men are part of the increase of obesity. Asian American women are only one percent to four percent of the total fifteen percent in America (Page 4). During 1999-2002 non-hispanic Black women were 20 percent more obese than white women (77.2 percent vs. 57.2 percent, and 49.0 percent vs.30.7 percent) and more than 50 percent of non-Hispanic Black women aged 40 years or older, were obese. Among African-American women they are more than twice obese amount than among White and Mexican-American women (13.5 percent vs. 5.5percent and 5.7 percent) (Page 4). Out of the children who were overweight, 65 percent were white females and 84 percent were black females and they all became obese adults (Page 15). Blacks had a higher rate than whites. Education and social status has a lot to do with obesity. The lower income and the lower education a person has the more likely it is for them to be obese. “The prevalence of obesity were 27.4 percent, 23.2 percent, 21.0 percent, and15.7 percent for persons with less than a high school education, a high school degree, some college, and college or above, respectively (44) (Page 6).” According to Add Health, they say that it is hard for lower income people to take part on sports or physical activities and be involved in good exercise so in turn the increases of obesity goes up (Page 19). The food in America is a low priced unhealthy intake like soda drink, snack foods, and fast-food restaurants, not to mention, the amount of food has increased to larger sizes. It is easier for people to remain healthier if they shop at supermarkets rather than independent groceries stores because supermarkets supply for healthy food choices. It is hard, however, for those who cannot afford to buy expensive healthy food just like it is hard for those who have a lower income to be involved in sports (Page 19). To determine obesity in geographic regions most of the study is done by a random sample of phone surveys. Each health department in each state has them call randomly to residence and take surveys about their weight (Page 2). Through a research group called NHANES they set up a linear graph to collect data on obesity and they determined that two thirds of 20 year olds were overweight in 2004 which 32.42 percent were obese and 4.8 percent were extremely obese (Page 3). The southeastern part of the United States has the highest prevalence of obesity in the United States compared to the Midwest, and the West Coast (Page 7). Through trends across the United States, the average BMI went up but three entities, 24.4 to 27.6 kg/m2 in men and from 25.3 to 28.2 kg/m2 in women (Page 3). Age and gender plays a huge role in the differences of obesity. Men tend to have a lower rate of increase in obesity but females are higher than males. According to NHANES kids ages 2-5 had an increase from 7.2 to 10.3 percent obesity ages 6-11 increased by triple the amount from 6.5 to 15.8 percent. Aged 12-19 obesity prevailed from 5.0 percent to 16.1 percent (Page 10). <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Summary: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> America needs to stop this epidemic now because it is increasing. As Americans become more obese health problems increase: more heath care, more food intake, and more taxes are possible; lists of problems are starting to occur if they have not already. The United States need to put together physical activity programs to keep people fit that contain minimal to no prices so that the increase of obesity goes down. Also America needs to put more restrictions on the food processing to have healthier choices. The amount of food a grown man eats compare to how much a child eats is going to be different. The growth between ethnic/racial groups is going to be different because of food choices. The area to which people grow up is going to influence the way people eat and exercise, and the income a person makes can sway the decision of healthy food choices and keeping fit. Overall, there are many differences among ages, gender, racial/ethnic groups, and social status because each group is different and has different eating habits, activity participation, and body weight (Page 19).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Author’s Main Question: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">Article Two:
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;"> Annual Review of Public Health. 26. 239-57 <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;">Authors’ Main Question: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;"> This study researched how obesity rates, specifically in the United States, have grown at an alarming rate, the negative impacts, and the reasons for the increase. It does not only affect the health of our country, but every aspect of it. Until recently, obesity was almost unheard of as many more people were suffering from the lack of food rather than too much of it. However, now obesity is the second leading cause of death at 400,000 causalities every year (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 240). The authors question why the increase has occurred, and in doing so, they examine common-sense views, whether or not they hold up, and the problems our country is having as a result of this epidemic. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;">Findings: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;"> Surprisingly, what has been about the same since the 1970s is the amount of physical energy people use (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 242); thus, this rules out a cause stemming from how jobs have changed from manual labor to being less strenuous. The number of calories have frequently increased since that same decade (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 242), often due to snacking (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 243). Moreover, the prices of healthy foods (such as fruits and vegetables) are much higher than prepackaged, easy-to-fix meals, which are also mass-produced and calorie-dense (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 245). Additionally, there is “the trend toward large portion sizes, perhaps due to falling food prices, [that] only serves to exacerbate this problem” (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 252) of obesity. Also found was a lack of self-control in obese individuals. Technology has not directly affected the increase of obesity; however, because of the snacking that occurs while on the computer, playing video games, and watching shows, technology has been pointed at as being “primarily responsible” (Finkelstein et al 2005; 249). Both doctor visits and an increase in medical care costs have gone up since obesity grew more widespread. Those who are classified as obese visit the doctor for reasons pertaining to their weight 38% more often than people of healthy weights (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 247). Also, 5% of health insurance paid by companies is for obese problems (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 247). While researching lifetime medical costs, it was found that “4.3% of lifetime costs are attributable to obesity, compared with an annual estimate between 5.6% and 7.0%” (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 248). <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;">Summary: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;"> There has been a rapid increase in obesity rates in the last several decades. All in all, the reason appears to be that people consume more calories: Food is attainable, cheap, easy to fix, and often calorie-dense than in the past. With more opportunities to eat, such as while using the technology that has developed along with the rise of obesity, people are losing their ability to use self-control while eating more snacks than ever before. Obesity can be a problem for a country. People who are obese have more health problems than people with healthy weights. This leads to an increase of doctor visits and a rise in the cost of healthcare, which affects individuals and companies alike. People are likely to be unable to help themselves; as a result, the researchers suggest that “interventions will need to be multifaceted to have the best chance of success” (Finkelstein et. al 2005; 253). In performing our own research, we should find a way to distribute healthy foods more fairly. This can be done by finding ways to cheapen the prices of fruits, vegetables, and other foods with nutritious values. If obesity rates are brought down, health care costs will become lower as well, which would allow for the poor to be able to afford healthcare. All together, the health and wealth of the entire nation would increase and prosper.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 81%; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">Article Three:
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;"> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “At a Glance” for February 2009 Obesity: Halting the Epidemic by Making Health Easier This article is about the obesity epidemic coursing through the United States. The obesity rates have doubled in adults and tripled in children. More than one third of the adults in the United States are obese, as well as 16% of children. There are numerous health consequences that can occur from obesity. These include but are not limited to: coronary heart disease, type-2 diabetes (which now occurs in children), and cancer (Page 1). To help diminish obesity and conditions related to this occurrence, Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) has created multiple state-wide programs. There are 23 states funded by CDC’s DNPAO to address the calamity of obesity. There are many important tasks of these new-founded programs in the states that include urging people to increase their physical activity, eat healthier, and decrease their television viewing hours. Fortunately, CDC supplies the training and technical assistance to the states (Page 2). Not only does CDC do many things to help people that are already obese, they also conduct and support research to help prevent obesity (Page 2). They are completing evidence based reviews of obesity interventions in three settings – medicare, work sites, and communities. And once the reviews are finished, CDC works hard to have translations of the evidence available for practitioners, communities, and the public. CDC also has created many new partnerships to help stop this obesity epidemic (Page 3). <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;">Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: normal;">Article Four:
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">

Khan, Laura K., Kathleen Sobush, Dana Keener, Kenneth Goodman, Amy Lowry, Jakub Kakietek, and Susan Zaro. "Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States." //Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report// RR-7 58 (2009): 1-32. Web.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Main Question: **
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">What preventative measures can be taken to decrease the obesity epidemic in the United States?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The article recommends different strategies to aid in the prevention of obesity on the community level, specifically in the United States. It exposes the rising obesity epidemic by stating statistics that can no longer be ignored, “approximately two thirds of U.S. adults and one fifth of U.S. children are obese or overweight. During 1980–2004, obesity prevalence among U.S. adults doubled, and recent data indicate an estimated 33% of U.S. adults are overweight, 34% are obese, including nearly 6% who are extremely obese. The prevalence of being overweight among children and adolescents increased substantially during 1999–2004, and approximately 17% of U.S. children and adolescents are overweight” (Kahn et. al 2009; 1). The article continues to inform the reader on the many health risks involved. “Being either obese or overweight increases the risk for many chronic diseases [for example,] heart disease, type [two] diabetes, certain cancers, and stroke” (Kahn et. al 2009; 1). The article then specifies the problem, “although diet and exercise are key determinants of weight, environmental factors beyond the control of individuals (including lack of access to full-service grocery stores, high costs of healthy foods, and lack of access to safe places to play and exercise) contribute to increased obesity rates by reducing the likelihood of healthy eating and active living behaviors” (Kahn et. al 2009; 1-2). This statement emphasizes the social conflict perspective and appropriately states the factors that can only be improved at the community and local level. The most compelling and pertinent strategies involve the promotion of healthy food and beverage choices, and making widely available healthy food options that are affordable for the lower class and those in poverty stricken areas. This includes lowering the prices of healthier foods and beverages, “and providing discount coupons, vouchers redeemable for healthier foods, and bonuses tied to the purchase of healthier foods. Pricing strategies create incentives for purchasing and consuming healthier foods and beverages by lowering the prices of such items relative to less healthy foods” (Kahn et. al 2009; 7). Pricing strategies can be used in schools. For instance, “decreasing the prices of healthier foods sold in vending machines and in cafeterias and increasing the price of less healthy foods and beverages at concession stands” (Kahn et. al 2009; 7). Research has also stated that more than half of the television advertisements that children watch are food related; making a push to limit the number of said advertisements in government facilities and schools; with the hopes that other communities will follow suit, so that the kids are no longer bombarded with unhealthy fast food commercials. Backed up by constant research, other strategies work to encourage and mandate physical activity among children and youth, as well as the push for developing safe places to play and exercise. They propose several changes in sidewalks, bike lanes, as well as a “half-mile network distance of at least one outdoor public recreational facility [from a residential community]” (Kahn et. al 2009; 17). The problem is the town and the communities need to have money and resources in order to keep their towns safe. America tends to place factories in lower income areas, making the air nearly un-breathable for children with asthma trying to play on the playground that is in the middle of two factories. These types of things need to be addressed, and the social conflict perspective looks at who is suffering and attempts to change the problem. The article calls for the state government to create polices that will work to prevent obesity in children and decrease the current statistics. School districts could collaborate with The Center for Disease Control to increase the amount of physical activity among the students in the public school system. Changes such as requiring that Physical Education be a part of the school curriculum as well as a requirement of, “a minimum of 150 minutes per week of PE in public elementary schools and a minimum of 225 minutes per week of PE in public middle schools and high schools throughout the school year as recommended by the National Association of Sports and Physical Education in 2006” (Kahn et. al 2009; 14). However it costs money to have PE programs and schools with more money have been able to implement this with resources such as gym equipment, teachers, coaches, and even a gym. A strategy to encourage breastfeeding is one of the most intriguing, as noted evidence states that “Breastfeeding has been linked to decreased risk of pediatric overweight in multiple epidemiologic studies” (Kahn et. al 2009; 13). Encouraging breastfeeding could be as simple as designating private places specifically for women to breastfeed their infants.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">A generation ago, women were told by the industry that you were not a good mother if you breastfed your child, and the only way to properly nourish your child was to use baby formula. Who profits? The industry, they banked on women who decided not to breastfeed because of these advertisements. Studies on the health benefits are striking, there is a push to bring back breastfeed your child. However the billions that the formula people are making allots for this power struggle of who benefits and who suffers from this current system; obviously obese children are suffering. Such changes like the appropriateness of breastfeeding, could increase the number of women who choose to breastfeed their babies. This change could then lend to a decrease in current obesity rates. One can clearly see who suffers in the current system as far as obesity rates in the lower classes as well as their limited accessibility to healthy foods. Communities can work to lower obesity rates by making changes so that those who currently cannot benefit will soon be able to. The structure of our society could aid rather than hurt obesity statistics if communities work toward the prevention of obesity and the recovery of healthy lifestyles.