By

Ms. T. Williams

CIS 166X

To most people, the term "obesity" means to be very overweight. Health professionals define

"overweight" as an excess amount of body weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water.

"Obesity" specifically refers to an excess amount of body fat. Some people, such as bodybuilders

and or other athletes with a lot of muscle, can be overweight without being obese.

Obesity is a public health crisis of mammoth proportions both in the United States and the

rest of the developed world. The prevalence is also increasing rapidly in numerous developing

nations worldwide. This growing incidence represents a pandemic that needs urgent attention if

the potential morbidity, mortality, and economic tolls that will be left in its wake are to be

avoided. In order to combat obesity, we must become part of the solution. You were just

assigned to work with the United States Food Administration department to come up with a

solution to combat obesity in the United States.

You will be put into groups of 5 to write a 3-4 pages paper on the

problem and also give a 7 minutes oral presentation to the class using the six steps in the

Public Policy Analysts.

1. Define the problem as stated in the introduction.

2. Gather Evidence to prove that this problem exists.

3. Identify causes that contributed to this problem.

4. Evaluate policy that already exists to combat this problem.

5. Develop solutions to eliminate the problem.

6. Select the best solution from the solution listed in number 5.

Steps: In the Resources section click and read the first six hyperlinks. For Hyperlinks #’s7-12

read and complete worksheet at the end of each page.

1. Understanding Adult Obesity
2. Obesity ‘becoming to US killer’
3. Obesity in Children and Adolescent
4. Obesity in the U.S.
5. Overweight, Obesity Threaten U.S. Health Gains
6. Obesity Passing Smoking as Top Avoidable Cause of Death
7. Define the problem and complete worksheet at the end of page
8. Gather Evidence and complete worksheet at the end of page
9. Identify Causes and complete worksheet at the end of page
10. Evaluate policy and complete worksheet at the end of page
11. Develop Solutions and complete worksheet at the of page
12. Select the best Solution and complete worksheet at the end of page

You will complete a 3-4 pages paper on the problem and give a 7 minutes oral presentation

using the six steps in the Public Policy Analysts.

Understanding Adult Obesity

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs/unders.htm

Obesity ‘becoming to US killer’

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3496918.stm

Overweight in Children and Adolescents

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/fact_adolescents.htm

Obesity in the US

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/6/5/154019/6025

Overweight, Obesity Threaten U.S. Health Gains

http://www.fda.gov/fda html

Obesity Costs U.S. $75.1 Billion

http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2004/Obesity-US-$75_1B22jan04.htm

Obesity Passing Smoking as Top Avoidable Cause of Death

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A43253-2004Mar9&notFound=true

This project is based on a research paper

which is worth 80 points and an oral presentation worth 20 points. In total this project is

worth 100 points. The criteria for the research paper and oral presentation is below.

RUBRIC:

Criteria for Written Presentation

	4	3	2	1
Introduction	All questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were clearly stated.	All questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were not clearly stated.	Not all questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all answers were not clearly stated.	All questions were not answered completely.	20
Task (which includes cover page)	All areas of the task were addressed and handled with a high degree of sophistication. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least one area of the task was not addressed. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least two areas of the task were not addressed. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a moderate level of thought.	The task is incomplete and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the development of the task.	20
Public Policy/ Solution Originality	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a high degree of originality.	The ideas expressed by the body of work are mostly original. The group may have improved upon a previous idea.	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a low degree of originality.	There were no original ideas expressed in this project.	20
Grammar, Format , and Spelling	The final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had 1 error related to either grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had 3-5 grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	20
				Your Total---	80

Criteria for Oral Presentation

Points

	4	3	2	1
Body Language	Movements seemed fluid and helped the audience visualize.	Made movements or gestures that enhanced articulation.	Very little movement or descriptive gestures.	No movement or descriptive gestures.	___3_
Eye Contact	Holds attention of entire audience with the use of direct eye contact.	Consistent use of direct eye contact with audience.	Displayed minimal eye contact with audience.	No eye contact with audience.	__3__
Introduction and Closure	Student delivers open and closing remarks that capture the attention of the audience and set the mood.	Student displays clear introductory or closing remarks.	Student clearly uses either an introductory or closing remark, but not both.	Student does not display clear introductory or Closing remarks.	__4__
Pacing	Good use of drama and student meets apportioned time interval.	Delivery is patterned, but does not meet apportioned time interval.	Delivery is in bursts and does not meet apportioned time interval.	Delivery is either too quick or too slow to meet apportioned time interval.	__3__
Poise	Student displays relaxed, self-confident nature about self, with no mistakes.	Makes minor mistakes, but quickly recovers from them; displays little or no tension.	Displays mild tension; has trouble recovering from mistakes.	Tension and nervousness is obvious; has trouble recovering from mistakes.	__3__
Voice	Use of fluid speech and inflection maintains the interest of the audience.	Satisfactory use of inflection, but does not consistently use fluid speech.	Displays some level of inflection throughout delivery.	Consistently uses a monotone voice.	__4__
				Total---->	__20__

This web quest focuses on the following:

English Language Arts Performance Standards

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

E3b: Participates in-group meetings.

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation

Science:

S2a: Structure and function in living systems.

S5c: Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop description.

S5f: Works individually and in team to collect and share information.

In conclusion we have learned that obesity is an increasingly common problem amongst both children and adults

in the United States. This trend is linked to changing food consumption patterns and increased time spent doing

sedentary activities, like watching television and using computers.  The increase in obesity has also resulted in

higher death rates from obesity-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The rise of the "obesity

epidemic" costs the American economy over $99 billion a year.