Causes and Consequences of Increased Childhood Obesity Assignment | Childhood Obesity

Before completing this activity, please read the Module Notes, entitled The Causes and Social Consequences of Childhood Obesity. You can also access a PDF version.Preview the document .

Discussion: The Increase in Childhood Obesity
Introduction to the Activity

This Engage discussion activity addresses Module Outcomes 1, 2, and 3. In this module you have reviewed a great deal of material related to childhood obesity, and now you have the opportunity to engage this topic directly and with your fellow classmates.

You may want to access the Readings and Materials page for review.

Read:

Required

Module Notes: The Causes and Social Consequences of Childhood Obesity (Links to an external site.)

Dawes, L. (2014). Bigger bodies in a broken world: Television and the epidemic of childhood obesity. (Links to an external site.)In Childhood obesity in America. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, (pp.173-190).
Jackson, S. L., & Cunningham, S. A. (2015). Social competence and obesity in elementary school. (Links to an external site.) American Journal of Public Health, 105(1), 153–158.

Werner, D. (2017). Battling childhood obesity. (Links to an external site.) USA Today Magazine, 146(2866), 62.

View/Review:
Required

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Childhood Obesity Facts. (Links to an external site.)

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. (Links to an external site.)

Feelings of hunger. (Links to an external site.) (2014). Segment 7 of Memory. Switch International. (3:43 mins). Closed Captioned.

The skinny on obesity: Sugar – a sweet addiction (episode 4). (Links to an external site.)(2012). (7:14 mins). Closed Captioned.

Maracle, A. (2017, March 1). Society’s sweet tooth: The brain’s response to sugar. (Links to an external site.)TEDx Talks. (13:00 mins). Closed Captioned.

Optional Readings:

Carlisle, K. L., Buser, J. K., & Carlisle, R. M. (2012). Childhood food addiction and the family. (Links to an external site.)Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 20(3), 332–339.

Milliken-Smith, S., & Potter, C. M. (2018). Paternal origins of obesity: Emerging evidence for incorporating epigenetic pathways into the social determinants of health framework. (Links to an external site.) Social Science & Medicine.

Nestle, M. (2013). Starting early: Underage consumers. (Links to an external site.)In Food politics: How the food industry influences nutrition and health. Berkeley: University of California Press, (pp.178-197).

Use the EC Library resources for research assistance and to properly cite your work:

Sociology Research Guide (Links to an external site.)
Plagiarism & Copyright (Links to an external site.)
Excelsior Library Writing Help  (Links to an external site.)
APA Citation Help (Links to an external site.)
Excelsior College Online Writing Lab (OWL) (Links to an external site.)
Questions?
Do you have questions on the topics, content or activities? Click “Reply” to post in the discussion forum below. Please keep in mind that this is an area to which all learners in the course have access. If you have a more personal question (for example, grades or grading), please contact your instructor.

Discussion Posting Guide

Instructions to Learners
Before beginning this activity, be sure to read the Module Notes, assigned readings, and view the assigned videos. Use as much detail from the readings and other learning materials in the module as possible to answer the following question prompts.

Based on the assigned materials this week, explain why we have seen increased rates of obesity in children since the 1960s.
How is society responsible?
How are parents responsible?