The Cost of Obesity

M. Timblaco-Geraldino

Frederick Douglass Academy II

can lead to learning problems in school, as well as health problems. School districts and companies alike are working together to instill healthy eating habits in America's youth. Your help is needed to raise public awareness of the epidemic at FDA II and in New York City!

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Each member of the group will specialize in one area.

• Expert on Causes of Obesity

This member is responsible to do a background research on the evidence or data that support obesity as a social problem and on the causes of or factors contributing to the problem

• Expert on NYCDOE Obesity Policies

This member is tasked to research on the existing NYCDOE policies that are implemented to address the issue and to evaluate the effectiveness of the same.

• Expert on Cost of Obesity

. This member is assigned to gather evidence on the academic and social costs and health dangers posed by obesity among children.

• Expert on LinReg Modeling

This graphing calculator expert is tasked to evaluate the nutritional value information of NYCDOE’s SchoolFood menu and to model the relationship between these values mathematically using linear regression function.

• Expert on Public Policy Advocacy Paper

This member is responsible to study the parts, format and organization of a Public Policy Advocacy Paper and to ensure that the group’s output follows the same. This person will be the group leader and chairman.

The group with the best Public Policy Advocacy Paper will be given the opportunity to present their project to the FDA II principal, teachers, and parents in one of the monthly PTA meetings.

You will be using the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) procedure in conducting a background research on the social problem at hand. The link to the PPA Q & E Worksheet is provided in the box below in order to guide you complete each step of the PPA.

If you need to review information from any of the six steps, click on the link for that step.

process process process

1. Define the problem. In your own words, explain why childhood obesity is a social problem. To define your social problem, you may use one of the methods in the Information Tool.

2. Gather Evidence. Using the Internet links provided in this section, gather at least three types of evidence to support the existence of your social problem and list several underlying factors that contribute to the problem. Support these factors with evidence. Your evidence may include facts and statistics of childhood obesity in New York.

3. Identify Causes: Based on your research, what actually causes obesity? Remember, there may be more than one cause. Review the Internet articles that you read and brainstorm the causes and factors that contribute to your social problem. Record that information on Worksheet

4. Examine the Existing Policy. What is the New York City Department of Education currently doing to address the issue? Analyze both the advantages and disadvantages of the existing policies. Then answer Worksheet 2.

Worksheet 2: NYCDOE’s SchoolFood Nutrition: A Mathematical Model

5. Develop a Solution. Propose at least three new/original public policy alternatives. Be sure that all of your public policy alternatives are at the same geopolitical level as your social problem. Each alternative must specify the actual government or government agency that will carry out the proposed action. List the proposal that your group considers the most promising first. Be creative!!!

6. Select the Best Policy. Choose the best public policy from among the three alternatives you identified in step 5. Use the Effectiveness Matrix to help justify your best solution.

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o Obesity as a Major Public Health Threat http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/obesity/strategic_plan/major_threat.htm

o Americans Fret Over Fat Kids http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/12/opinion/polls/main553484.shtml

o Healthy school lunches for your kids http://www.wnbc.com/video/9787896/index.html#

o NYCDOE SchoolFood Product Nutritional Information

http://www.opt-osfns.org/osfns/forms/NutritionInformation.pdf

o Obesity in America http://health.msn.com/reports/obesity/newyork.aspx

o The hidden cost of obesity http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13958810/

o Curbing obesity http://www.news10now.com/content/all_news/central_new_york/?SecID=86&ArID=31668

o Americans Fret Over Fat Kids http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/12/opinion/polls/main553484.shtml

o Report Finds New York Has 34th Highest Rate of Adult Obesity in U.S.; National Policy Paralysis Threatens to Make Problem Worse

http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2005/release.php?StateID=NY

o It's a go for healthy lifestyle initiative http://www.nysut.org/newyorkteacher/2004-2005/041021_247.html

o New York Times Obesity articles http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/obesity/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier

o Pros and Cons of a Zoning Diet http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/nyregion/24fast.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fHealth%2fDiseases%2c%20Conditions%2c%20and%20Health%20Topics%2fObesity

o Obesity: A weighty Issue for Children http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/111-13/focus.html

o Public Policy Advocacy Paper http://www.agh-attorneys.com/2_syl_purdue_paper.htm

Your Public Policy Paper will be evaluated using the rubrics below.

Rubric for Evaluating the Public Policy Paper

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Content - Accuracy	All content throughout the paper is accurate. There are no factual errors.	Most of the content is accurate but there is one piece of information that might be inaccurate.	The content is generally accurate, but one piece of information is clearly flawed or inaccurate.	Content is typically confusing or contains more than one factual error.
Originality	Paper shows considerable originality and inventiveness. The content and ideas are presented in a unique and interesting way.	Paper shows some originality and inventiveness. The content and ideas are presented in an interesting way.	Paper shows an attempt at originality and inventiveness.	Paper is a rehash of other people's ideas and/or graphics and shows very little attempt at original thought.
Sequencing of Information	Information is organized in a clear, logical way. It is easy to anticipate the type of material that might be on the next card.	Most information is organized in a clear, logical way. One card or item of information seems out of place.	Some information is logically sequenced. An occasional card or item of information seems out of place.	There is no clear plan for the organization of information.
Evidence and Examples	All of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position.	Most of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position.	At least one of the pieces of evidence and examples is relevant and has an explanation that shows how that piece of evidence supports the author's position.	Evidence and examples are NOT relevant AND/OR are not explained.
Sources	All sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and cited correctly.	All sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and most are cited correctly.	Most sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and cited correctly.	Many sources are suspect (not credible) AND/OR are not cited correctly.
Aesthetics	Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the paper presentation.	Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the paper presentation.	Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the presentation content.	Use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation of content.
Math content	Scatter plot fits the data well; a correct linear regression equation is obtained; correct interpretation of the slope and vertical intercept.	Scatter plot fits the data well; a correct linear regression equation is obtained; incorrect interpretation of the slope and vertical intercept.	Scatter plot is not properly drawn; a correct linear regression equation is obtained; incorrect interpretation of the slope and vertical intercept.	Graph and linear regression equation are incorrect

This WebQuest adheres to the NYS Math and ELA Standards:

M4: Students use mathematical modeling/multiple representation to provide a means of presenting, interpreting, and communicating, and connecting mathematical information and relationships.

M5: Students collect and display data; use statistical methods such as graphs, tables and charts to interpret data.

M6. Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.

ELA 1: Students will listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

Upon completion of this project, you and your teammates will have examined a social problem, explored its causes, and proposed a feasible solution for the good of New York City students. You will have produced a Public Policy Paper that will raise awareness among New York City students on the social and health costs of obesity.

Most importantly, you will have used mathematics to model and solve a real-life social problem!!!