Increasing Obesity Rates Linked to Biological and Social Factors Require Community Action to Promote Healthy Future Generations

Americans are constantly reminded of obesity whether it is through watching the news or visiting the doctor. What remains shocking is how little Americans understand about how pervasive obesity is in society.
At its core, obesity is a result of increased fat due to over-consumption . This buildup of unneeded fat can result in life threatening medical ailments such as diabetes, various cardiovascular disorders, and even cancer.

The basics of a healthier diet begin at ensuring proper caloric intake on an individual basis. Understanding of daily caloric intake requirements and adequate body ratios is the first step in appreciating obesity and working to resolve it. The body mass index (BMI) is a universal indicator of obesity (BMI>30) based on a height to weight ratio. The simple BMI calculator on the right can help to open up individuals eyes about the obesity epidemic.

Dr. Christopher Capp, a University of Maryland professor in the field of physiological biochemistry, associates the obesity epidemic to the basic principle of consuming more energy from food sources than the body will burn through metabolic processes. People require a specific daily caloric intake that is dictated by their height, weight and activity level.

Increasing Obesity Rates Have Plagued the United States for Decades

Overall and state-by-state, obesity 
rates (according the the CDC) in the United States
 have increased drastically in the past several decades

Obesity, as defined by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), is having an excessive amount of body fat; a level that is at a much greater level than average and can result in serious health issues. Obesity is becoming an extraordinary problem in the United States with 18% (2012 figure) of children today being categorized as obese. The rate of obesity in the United States has been growing at an exponential rate over the years as children build unhealthy lifestyle habits that follow into adulthood. Lack of exercise and careless food choices propagate an unhealthy fat enabling culture. Obesity is a great problem in the United States due to accessibility of fast calories and saturated fats and a generally sedentary lifestyle within the population.

The body requires a certain intake of various biomolecules as energy in order to function. The major sources of energy in food include carbohydrates and lipids (fat). Dr. Capp explains that if the body intakes an excess of carbohydrates or fats than are required for daily function, they will be converted through metabolic processes. The body will convert excess energy stores into fat (adipose) cells that propagate in the body. Continued intake of unneeded energy thus results in obesity.

High Cost and Scarcity of Healthful Foods Promotes Unhealthy Choices

 

Eating more nutritious foods is at the center of reducing the prevalence of obesity. However, socio-economic factors play a major role in the ability for individuals to access healthy food options. A recent study by Harvard and Brown University researchers shows that eating a balanced healthful diet costs about $550 more per person per year. As a result, many families that are living in poverty or with limited funds are unable to attain healthy food options. The link between socio-economic standards/race has also shown that it is the poorer minorities that are more greatly affected by obesity. Societal changes to increase the availability of low cost healthy food alternatives would allow these population groups to enjoy better more healthful lifestyles. 

Current social welfare programs such as food stamps promote the purchase of unhealthy, sugary, and mostly processed foods. In fact, according to Harvard Magazine, $2 billion worth of food stamps are used annually to purchase sugary drinks. This immense amount of welfare money spent on unhealthy food choices has domino effects as medical ailments become a social burden in the future. Promoting healthier alternatives and providing incentives for healthier food choices can reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods and prevent future medical issues. 

The current food production framework outputs highly processed foods because it is based around a previously developed and currently effective industry. Resources are available to effectively produce, ship, and market processed foods. Continued adherence to this structure promotes the availability and consumption of unhealthy over healthy options. Dr. Capp suggests for people to reduce their intake of such processed and fast foods which contain high levels of unhealthy saturated fats. The food industry is driven by unhealthy standards that are enforced by consumers purchasing power. If consumers yield to healthier alternatives the industry will adapt to accommodate and provide healthier options. 

Sedentary Consumer Lifestyles Promote Adherence to Deleterious Choices and Lifelong Ailments 

Unhealthy and cheap food options such as this
McDonald's "Happy Meal" target children
and contribute to the obesity epidemic

The rapid increase in obesity can be associated with unsatisfactory nutrition, reduced physical activity levels and targeted advertising. This combination of factors has resulted in a greater prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles in families as a whole. Many of these factors are interlinked; lack of physical activity and increased sedentary habits such as watching television constantly increase the effectiveness of marketing techniques that target children through media outlets such as television and internet. Advertising campaigns aimed directly at children promote unhealthy food choices that accompanied with lack of physical activity have resulted in a rise in childhood obesity rates. 

Average food portion sizes in the United States greatly
exceed government recommendations

Portion control plays another key factor in limiting the intake of unhealthy foods. Portion sizes for many common day food items are far above the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) recommendations. A society based on consumption promotes over indulgence which is not required exceeds daily energy requirements and is stored as fats. Portion sizes in today's society promote excess and compulsive eating. Eating and consumption habits begin in early childhood and progress into adulthood; establishing distinct healthy habits early on promotes healthy decisions in the future. 

Obesity as a child is a great concern because it can lead to serious health problems at a young age. Overall unhealthy lifestyle habits can continue into adulthood leading to lifelong disorders. Childhood obesity has been shown to cause diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and a wide variety of other medical disorders as a result. The risks associated with these diseases increase as BMI ratios increase. The higher the BMI over the obesity standard (BMI>30), the greater the chance of an individual dying at a young age. 

A New England Journal of Medicine study highlighted the increased mortality
rates associated with obesity

As a result of increasing obesity and associated medical ailments, the cost of obesity to the public in the United States is 190.2 billion dollars annually and continues to increase as the prevalence of obesity increases. Obesity as a child has been shown to lead to an 80% chance of being obese as an adult. Obesity must be combated as a community and family in order for it to be effectively treated. 

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Last war chief of the Native American Crow tribe turns 101 years old in Montana

Joseph Medicine Crow- the oldest member of the Crow Indian
tribe and the last of the "war chiefs"-pictured wearing
traditional tribal chief dress

In an October, 2014 article titled, "Last of the Crow war chiefs turns 101 in Montana," AlJazeera reports on the landmark 101st birthday of the last recipient of the Native American Crow tribe's "war chief" title. The Crow tribe is a Native American tribe scattered across the Mid-Western United States; at 101 years old, Dr. Joesph Medicine Crow ("High Bird" in the Crow language), is the oldest member of the 10000 member tribe.  Anecdotes from family, friends, and experts examine the life and successes of  Medicine Crow.

He is described as a humorous loving, and good man. As tribal historian, he has worked to better his Crow community by documenting its history and spreading its message. His work along with his membership in the U.S. Army in World War II has earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Medicine Crow is also the first in his tribe to achieve a Master's Degree; he attributes his many successes including academics to Baptist missionaries from his childhood, his grandparents and his wife who have assisted and driven him. He is from a line of successful chiefs and his long life has been attributed to his exceptional genetic pool which includes many ancestors that have lived for longer than 100 years.

The article clearly conveys these points by applying the PICK principles to explain the issue and ensure that readers have the most effective engagement with the content.

The article is personalized for an American audience based on IP address localization

The multiple different platforms that AlJazeera has are shown
within the red box

Aljazeera has multiple platforms for news engagement, including an Arabic, Turkish, Balkans, International, and America platform. It personalizes site content by automatically directing audiences to their respective platform based on their IP address.  Users typing in the same URL will be led to different platforms depending on their geographical position allowing for greater personialzation of content.Users may choose to open a different platform later on but at first they are directed to one delegated by the sites personalization feature. This allows users to engage with news that is most relevant to them and to receive updates related to the weather and news in their areas on a personalized level. Specifically, with this article, Native American affairs are most applicable to American audiences, so they are highlighted on the "AlJazeera America" page. The site also personalizes the suggested content based on readers news habits to provide them with the suggestions that suit their interests. 

Embedded links, social media integration, direct commenting and sound provide interactivity and context

Sound, content link, and social media interactivity options
within the article are highlighted in red

Direct commenting allows for interaction with other consumers

The article includes multiple different interactivity components. A soundbite of Medicine Crow speaking allows audiences to engage with the news and build a greater connection. Additional information related to important topics can be easily accessed through links embedded within the text. These links open in new windows to allow the reader to continue reading the article and follow up with the information at their own pace. A pane that allows users to share the content on various social media remains fixed on the left side of the screen at all times. Also, a comments section at the end provides readers a platform to discuss the article with other readers and continue the conversation. These features allow for greater engagement with the news and can foster greater appreciation for the content. 

Contiguity is apparent in the integration of text with applicable graphics throughout the article

Images contiguiously integrated
into the text provide
for better comprehension

The flow of the article is very contiguous from beginning to end with images integrated directly into the article to flow with the content. The title flows with the subtitle, image, and introduction to provide great context about the articles purpose. The contiguity of the article is based on the fluidity of the visual and written aspects. The writing is coherent and it is easy to make connections between what is being written and what is exhibited. Images are integrated in a manner that allows for easy connection of the images to the content they relate to. The content is all provided in an explanatory fashion with all images associated with explanatory descriptions to allow them to stand alone while still being directly applicable to and flowing with the content of the text. 

Kick-outs are avoided with minimal advertisements, including other featured articles at the bottom, and opening links in new windows 

AlJazeera chooses to use minimal amounts of advertising; advertising can lure audiences away from the content of the article and result in kick outs. The website uses unobtrusive advertising that does not interfere with the content. Links that users can engage with open in new tabs rather than moving away from the site ensuring that the content remains available for the consumer. Also, additional links to related articles as well as the comments section are placed at the end of the article preventing distraction. However, some kick outs are still evident; articles listed on the right side of the screen could distract users from the content of the article; re-positioning these suggested links would decrease the likelihood of kick outs. 

Increase in Soda Portion Sizes Linked to Increased Sugar Consumption and Obesity

A 2012 Harvard School of Public Health review of the evolution of sugary drink marketing shows a drastic increase in the size of packaged soft drinks. Available serving sizes for packaged soft drink beverages meant for individual consumption have increased by over 700% since the 1950's. Prior to the 1950's, soda was available in only 6.5 oz cans; the 1960's brought 12 oz availability which progressed to 20 oz in the 1990's and eventually 42 oz meant for singular consumption in the 2010's. This increase in portion size marketing has been linked to increased daily sugar consumption and as a result the rising obesity levels in the United States. As larger sizes of sugary drinks become available, more of Americans' daily caloric intake has been based on unhealthy simple sugars and has contributed to an obesity epidemic in the country.

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