Analysis: The Weight Of The Nation

Assignment #2

Question 1: Economy

Throughout the video series “The Weight of the Nation” obesity is addressed several times, including how it as a disease has affected our economy for the worse. Although obesity has not drastically affected the states with higher income, those who live in states with lower income tend to be more negatively affected. In the first part of the video series, there was a study done by researchers in Tennessee proving that people with lower incomes are more negatively affected and prone to the disease of obesity. “If we don’t take on strategies that affect how the low income community is dealing with the obesity epidemic, we’re going to see this phenomenon across our society in a relatively short period of time.”

A way I can see obesity affecting me, is that eventually over time the epidemic can spread to states closer to my area, or even my own, resulting in the possibility of being at a higher risk of obesity for my family and myself. It has been proven that areas with lower income are more prone to obesity because of the fact that the options for food are very limited based on the higher prices for healthier foods. Directly after Iton mentioned his take in this part of the video, a fact was shown on the screen saying, “Of the 10 states with the highest obesity rates, 9 rank amongst our nation’s poorest.” Although it is not proven that New Jersey – where I am from- is one of the poorest in the nation, or one that has a high obesity rate, I could become more at risk for the chances of being over weight and or being obese. Because of the fact that it is more difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle under the circumstances of being under the poverty line, those who have lower incomes are more prone to becoming over weight or obese. In this case, healthier options for food tend to be more

One health concern in this video series is shown with Darryl Phillipson. He is a judge, and he mentions in part 2 of the series that it is even difficult for him to walk up the stairs to get to the podium. He is said to be suffering from knee pain, high blood pressure, and he is on medication to control his obesity. Because Phillipson is at a higher risk for cardiac failure, or any other major heart disease, he is using the option of Bariatric surgery to lose weight and improve his weight-related health conditions. Another individual that was interviewed because of health related concerns was Wayne Robinson, a field superintendent for Nabholz Construction Corporation in part 3 of the video series. Robinson dropped weight from being around 245 pounds, and decreased his cholesterol levels. He says in part 3 of the video series, “Talking to Jamie (member of health dept.) made me realize I needed to start exercising, and the weight started falling off. I was stoked.” The health department of this corporation started doing research on its employees who work at sites constructing. Robinson had very high cholesterol, which could later lead to heart problems, and other serious illnesses, all related to being over weight. One of these health risks that I feel I could become extremely at risk for is