Week 7 Rough Draft for Research Paper
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
University of Phoenix *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
156
Subject
Communications
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
9
Uploaded by DeaconFogTurtle32
1
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
The Overweight-Obesity Epidemic and The Governments Role
Mitch Lewis
University of Phoenix
Comm/156
7/20/14
Steven Tate
2
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States of America. Tobacco use is the leading cause. 65% of the population in the United States of America is overweight or obese. At the current pace people are gaining weight, researchers believe that by the year 2030, 86% of the population will be overweight including obese people. The health related problems and costs associated with these problems are projected to reach $956.9 billion dollars. (Wang, Youfa; Beydoun, May A; Liang, Lan; Cabellero, Benjamin; Kumanyika, Shiriki K; Obesity (2008) 2323-30.) The leading cause of childhood obesity is due to the over consumption of products that are subsidized by the government. Farmers are forced to grow certain commodities only. These commodities just happen to be the ones that are causing the country to gain weight continuously. Subsidized grains are the basis of refined products that go into most processed foods. Processed foods happen to be the main item of consumption by the people of the United States of America. The government does not allow the farmers to grow fruits, and vegetables. There is an obesity epidemic in the United States of America that was preventable by the government, and is fixable if they will get more involved, and take a proactive
stand. 65% of adults from the ages of 20 and older in the United States of America are overweight, this percentage includes obesity. (CDC, 2013, HTM# 064) For a person to be considered overweight, they must have a BMI rating of 25 to 30. Obese BMI rating is at 30 or greater. Black females are at the highest rate of overweight or obese people. Being overweight causes an array of health problems. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common health conditions. High cholesterol can also run rampant among the overweight, along with high blood pressure, and other health concerns. 34% of overweight adults have high cholesterol. (CDC, 2013, HTM# 064) 48% of overweight or obese adults are affected with high blood pressure, leading to hypertension. (CDC, 2013, HTM# 064) 46.6% of children from the ages of 2 to 19 years old, are also affected with this condition. (CDC, 2013, HTM# 064) Children as young as 10 years of age are becoming affected with type 2 diabetes. (Kaufman, Kathleen, MD, ADA) -
8% to 40% of new pediatric health cases are due to having type 2 diabetes. (Kaufman, Kathleen, MD, ADA) There is a 2 year old that has been the recipient of weight loss surgery. The young child weighed 73 pounds at the time of the procedure.
3
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
For the last 35 years, the government has subsidized the growing of just a few commodity
crops, and forbidding those farmers from growing fruits and vegetables. The USDA has encouraged these commodity farmers to produce an over abundance of these crops, with childhood obesity being foreseeable. In an effort to gain a foothold on a growing global market, US farmers produced an abundance of cheap commodity grains. (Walinga, David. Health Affairs
29.3 March 2010, 405-10.) The cost of healthy foods such as green leafy vegetables and apples has increased, while the cost of highly caloric sugary drinks has dropped. (Walinga, David. Health Affairs 29.3 March 2010, 405-10.) The leading cause of weight gain in children is consumption of sugar-filled soft drinks. The desired consumption of fruits and vegetables is a key component to weight management; it also helps prevent many forms of cancers and illness. (Walinga, David. Health Affairs 29.3 March 2010, 405-10.) The government recommends 6-11 servings of grains per day.
Does it not seem a little peculiar that these are the most subsidized by them? Grains happen to be
very high on the calorie count as well. The USDA has supporting facts that the food supply system does not even supply enough fruits, and vegetables to support the recommended daily consumption per person. There are currently no incentives for farmers to increase the amount of healthy food production needed to help control the obesity epidemic.
The government strictly monitors the food industry. The government also highly subsidizes it. The food industry is widely responsible for obesity and related illnesses. The necessity of life, that which is food, has been turned into an industrialized commodity. Subsidies that are provided by the government do not always go to the farmers that need it the most. There have been medications that go into food items banned by other countries that are approved for human consumption by the United States Government. Much of the oil that the military is fighting over is widely used for the production and transportation of food. Processing of food products is polluting the water supply and destroying the planet. Companies have to change the way they are producing food. That will be vital to save the planet. The government seems to be more concerned with profit over the health of citizens. The wealth of the people, who own stock, has become the most important factor in the production of food products.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
4
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
There have been community-based projects that have had success with children becoming educated, and maintaining healthy lifestyles including weight loss. An Indian tribal community created a collaborative childhood obesity coalition that shows promising signs. Researching participants felt there was a high level of enthusiasm to gain control over childhood obesity. (Page-Reeves, Janet. Cruz, Theresa. Davis, Sally. Human Organization 73.2 (summer 2104): 183-192) American Indian children are more likely to become obese than Caucasian children. (Page-Reeves, Janet. Cruz, Theresa. Davis, Sally. Human Organization 73.2 (summer 2104): 183-192) American Indians are three times more likely to contract Type 2 diabetes over Caucasian people. Researchers are still trying to figure out why this is a fact. Is it due to genetics,
or diet choices? (Page-Reeves, Janet. Cruz, Theresa. Davis, Sally. Human Organization 73.2 (summer 2104): 183-192) Tribes run off of their own government bodies, which make working with them unique, and challenging. The process of gaining approval with a tribal council can be a very long and painstaking task. Researching participants felt there was a high level of enthusiasm to gain control over childhood obesity. It is very unfortunate that a preventable overweight and obesity epidemic has become one
of the biggest issues that the United States of America is facing. It is not too late to take action, and try to prevent the problem from getting any further out of control. With changing times, there should be changing thoughts, preceded by taking action. Change will have to start with educating the innocent victims, our children. Adults of the country have to change the way they think, and begin to change the way they live. Children will follow the examples that are laid out in front of them by the adults. The training should start at home. Adults need to decide now if they are going to take part in the prevention of allowing the problem to get worse. If we adults change the way we think, and act about the issue, the children will more than likely follow and model after us. The government can make changes to existing policies to prevent the epidemic from becoming too far gone. As the saying goes, “if nothing changes, there will be no changes.” The time is now for people in and out of the highest parts of society to take part in the solution. We have collectively allowed the issue to become very close to becoming irreversible. As the elite of the country continue to grow their wealth, the overweight and the obese continue to grow
their waste lines, and become more and unhealthy.
5
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
Source References http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus13.pdf#064
http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/20/4/217.full
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/
204624180/42EA5809BBAE4F37PQ/9?accountid=458#
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/1535666577/
D5865E0FE6654858PQ/18?accountid=458#
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/
219873889/2EABE91ABC6F4CDBPQ/3?accountid=458#
6
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
7
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
8
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
9
COM/156
Research Paper
Mitch Lewis
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help