childhood obesity......not good

Obesity is a great problem in the world today, especially in the united states. The rate of childhood obesity has been rising dramatically over the past 30 years, increasing three fold during that time period (Singh, Kogan, & Dyck, 2008).The problem is very daunting in the state of west Virginia, where over 30 percent of the general population and 20.9 percent of the adolescent population are overweight or obese (Williams, Taylor, Wolf, Lawson, & Crespo, 2007). The percentage of 6-11 year old children with a BMI above the 85th percentile increased from 15% in 1963 to 22% in 1994 (Caballero, Himes, Lohman, Davis, Stevens, Evans, Going, &
Pablo 2003). Many factors such as high food prices, easy access to high calorie foods, genetics, and physical inactivity contribute to this epidemic, making it difficult to understand (Thoenen, 2002). It is also believed that high consumption of high-fat snacks and soft drinks has played a role (Caballero et.al). Children's caloric intake has also escalated by 80 to 230 calories per day from 1989 to 1996 whereas levels of their physical activity declined (Harper, 2006).

The prevalence is highest among minorities and children belonging to low socioeconomic classes (Harper, 2006). One major problem with childhood obesity is that sometimes people refuse to view it as a problem. There are few educational policies in place that make it a priority for children and families to know about the epidemic. Statistically, low income populations are the ones who are most effected by obesity. This is a problem which requires education along with action. Economic status is a key factor in determining origins of the disease. Many people
in low income families and communities don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and the high calorie foods are easy to get and much cheaper. The “family meal,” is being increasingly replaced by fast food or restaurant food, which is high in fat and calories but low in fruit andvegetables. (Harper, 2006). When you combine this with a lack of physical activity, it creates a situation that is more susceptible to obesity.

There is a break down in the education system. That’s where the problem begins. There is a lack of policy in education to fight the disease. For example, Illinois is the only state in the country that requires physical education by law for grades K-12 (Postlewaite, 2003). Many people feel that the physical education standards either aren’t high enough or aren’t innovative enough to properly dissuade children from engaging in poor eating habits. West Virginia’s physical education director, Bane McCracken, wishes to see the State Legislature and the schools
partner together to offer more nontraditional activities such as mountain biking and backpacking. He asserts that “our next generation will bankrupt themselves with medical costs, and 25 to 50 percent of our kids will have heart attacks and obesity rates of 70 year olds by the time they are 30” (Postlewaite, 2003). This seems to be an issue about which people are passionate. And because the school systems decide what goes in the cafeterias, they have a major role in the nutrition of many of America’s children. That is why many were alarmed when in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did a study on school health policies and found that
many foods available at schools are high in fat, sodium and added sugars. A large number of these schools have vending machines and snack bars that the students can utilize while at school (Postlewaite, 2003). It is also now apparent that competitive foods, foods availableoutside the school meal program, are now accessible in many school systems. Ninety percent of public schools sell competitive foods that are not required to meet US Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition standards (Harper, 2006).

The obesity epidemic is a problem with many different causes. It is impossible to definitively state one cause, or even the most important cause. In west Virginia many factors including culture, inadequate transportation, poverty, lack of medical care and lack of health insurance, and physical inactivity are having large impacts on the health and nutritional well being of the people in these areas, thus making everyone more susceptible to obesity (Williams, Taylor, Wolf, Lawson, & Crespo, 2007). Increased calorie consumption and physical inactivity
are both becoming more commonplace in our society every day. Researchers at John's Hopkins University and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) discovered that children watch 4 or more hours of T.V. a day, not including playing video games and internet surfing on the computer, all activities that require no movement (Thoenen, 2002). Where young people once ran, jumped, and played almost exclusively outside the home, they are now spending more and more time in front of either a television or a computer. There have been several studies suggesting that high levels of obesity may be more strongly connected to a decrease in energy output than in increased calorie consumption (Thoenen, 2002).

It is clear to see that the obesity epidemic in this country is a multi-faceted problem. There are many factors that contribute and can be associated with it. Social policies engineered to stop the spread of obesity among youth are not very prevalent in school systems in the United States. They are especially lacking in the rural communities. With a problem like obesity that is so widespread, the government should be willing to take the necessary steps to see this disease erased from the population.

nighttime musing

Earlier tonite I went for a run. The air was cool and fresh, and the moon was covered up by the clouds. I like running at night after a rainy day. The ground feels clean and the air in my lungs is refreshing. I knew I had work waiting for me at home, so it was good to clear my mind out on the road and just let it be, before I put it back to work, staring at computer screens and textbooks.
I like my home. It only makes sense for me to be learning while living in this city. I’m not sure I could live here otherwise.
Okay, this was a step in the right direction I think……back to work though.

a lot of words

Welfare plays a big role in the makeup of American society in 2008. Every day the welfare offices in America see people come to ask for assistance from their government. Sometimes its just temporary until they can get back on their feet. Other times they have a disability, either physical or mental, that keeps them out of the work force. And sometimes they don’t need it at all, they’re just looking to cheat the system and gain assistance under false pretenses. Regardless of the reason, though, public assistance programs in this country are there to provide for and alleviate the suffering of the poor and underprivileged populations. It was necessary for me to try and gain more understanding by visiting the Department of Health and human Resources in Morgantown.
I walked into a slightly cramped and emotionless room with trepidation. The sun was shining outside, but somehow it felt like a cave inside. I can’t remember if there were windows, but if there were, the shades were drawn. The workers sat behind a plane of glass and a little black box for you to speak into. I took an application and found a seat. As I began to fill in the blanks, a million thoughts ran through my head. I had an overwhelming sense of shame because I wasn’t there to seek assistance, but to observe people who were seeking assistance. I was there to experience everything about visiting a welfare office, but because people are what I care about the most, I couldn’t get my mind off them. I had the strange sensation that I was at a zoo, simply observing some foreign creature in their natural habitat. This is what disturbed me about myself. The part that makes the analogy is the observing part. I’m not implying that they are animals. They are human beings with needs, just like me.
At the top of the application it read, “Screening Form.” I didn’t think this was a very good phrase for me to read first. Reading those words made me feel like a suspect. “What are they screening for?” I wondered. It was as if I needed to prove myself worthy of their assistance. I was offended that they didn’t trust me. I found it ironic that while I was sitting there answering questions about my financial status, President Bush was speaking about the state of the economy on the little t.v. that was propped up on the coke machine. I had the sense that my emotions would cause me to explode after sitting there for only 5 minutes. I think it just broke my heart to be there, even with the tough voice inside my head telling me that this is a real part of million’s of peoples lives. I was offered a little glimpse into some of the feelings that may be felt in that room, waiting to apply for assistance. I felt helplessness, anger, doubt, and shame. I put myself in the shoes of a father who’s just been laid off from his job and can’t provide for his family. When I thought that way, I became embarrassed and couldn’t look anyone in the eye. The greatest sensation I felt was the urge to run out of that room as fast as possible and not long after that, I did. On the verge of tears, I felt a wave of relief as I returned to the blue, cloudless sky outside the office.
Those that visit public welfare offices may go for different reasons. There are millions of situations that would lead someone to ask for help. While I was contemplating everything in the lobby of the DHHR, it made me think that we live in a profit driven society that seems to be more concerned with making money than helping people. If someone is working a job making minimum wage, and isn’t provided health insurance, what happens when they get sick and really need care? Can they count on getting approved for coverage? Can they even afford it if they do? If someone has to spend their life savings on hospital bills for both them and their spouse, how can they afford to feed themselves, let alone their family? Healthcare is a big issue surrounding welfare. The lack of it compels many to seek assistance because hospital bills can be outrageous. One real life example to support this is a friend of mine, who was self employed and without health insurance who was in a car accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. She was in the intensive care unit for almost a month, and in the hospital for 3 months total. By the time she left, her bill was around $790,000. They had to sell everything they owned and it wasn’t close. This is a real life situation. It’s not inconceivable that spending money on hospitals could drive someone into needing assistance.
Another question I asked myself as I sat there was, “what could I do to help in this situation?” I know that on a micro level, the first and best way that I can help is by simply listening. I can participate in their life by listening to them tell me about their struggles. Obviously a decision needs to be made about whether or not they are eligible for assistance, but when I shake their hand, look them in the eye, and treat them like a human being; it helps to empower those that may feel downtrodden. On a mezzo level support groups for those dealing with the shame and doubt that comes with welfare would be useful as well as workshops or tutorials that provide life skills training that may provide the skills not only to survive, but to be able to thrive in this society. If no one ever gave them such an opportunity, maybe it would go a long way in building confidence and respect.
This experience did not make me want to rethink my decision of social work as a profession. If anything, it only encourages me more. It’s not because the people that I saw in that room looked so bad and it makes me want to help them, it’s simply because those that seek assistance have such a negative stigma in our society. Most people, where the idea of “screening form,” comes from, need proof that you’re in need. We’re so mistrusting of people that you must pass an income and asset test in order to qualify. I understand that there really are people who lie, and are only trying to take advantage of the system. My point is that we’re in a circle of mistrust that never seems to end. Unfortunately not only do we have trust issues but we are also an individualistic society in many ways, and sometimes we can be lazy when it comes to mobilizing efforts to aide the forgotten populations like the poor, elderly, disabled and sick. Helping people who are in need is the driving force behind all social work. It is the idea that this profession is founded upon, and the one which urges me to continue.