Introduction
PART 1: Establishing the Problem (Week 1)
Problem Background
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “‘over- weight’ and ‘obesity’ are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012, http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining. html). Obesity has become an epidemic and a public health crisis.
American Psychological Association (APA) Past President Suzanne Bennett Johnson, PhD, reports rates of obesity have drastically risen since the 1960s. Adult rates of obesity increased from 13% (all U.S. adults) to 32% for males and 36% for females. Childhood obesity rates have also risen—from 5-7% to 17% since the 1960s (Johnson, 2012). Johnson also suggests obesity is currently the second leading cause of death in the United States and is likely to become the first (Johnson, 2012, http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/2012/07/child- hood-obesity.aspx).
This online PBL unit provides an opportunity for you to use psychological science to create solutions for addressing the epidemic of childhood obesity. Psychology is a health science, and this unit addresses the important role psychological science can play in promoting good health.
Task
PART 1: Establishing the Problem (Week 1)
This week you will develop a better understanding of the problem of childhood obestiy by engaging in a class-wide discussion on the course Moodle website. You will also be assigned to a research/ presentation group on the course website. You will also be given the opportunity to reflect on your participation this week through a discussion self-assessment. Each week there will be either a discussion self-assessment or a peer and group-assesment. These activities will help you guage your participation in and contributions to class discussions or collaborative group-based discussion and activites, respectively.
Part 1 Overview:
1) Complete one of the activites in the Process section
2) Engage in class discussion
3) Complete discussion self-assessment*
* The discussion self-assessment is not to be confusted with the peer and group-assessments, which are reserved for reflection on group research activities and presenation particiaption.
Process
PART 1: Establishing the Problem (Week 1)
To begin, please select one or more of the activities listed below, complete the activity, then sign into the Moodle course website and engage in a disscussion with your classmates. Use the following questions to guide your discussion:
1) Why is obesity a major problem in our society today?
2) How is childhood obesity affecting our children?
Following this week's discussion actitivties, please go to the group presention board on teh course Moodle website and familiarize yourself with your research/presentation group members, including the Wiki presentation page. Also, please complete a this week's discussion self-assessment on the Moodle website.
ACTIVITIES:
Explore a website
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Childhood over- weight and obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/child- hood/index.html.
View a presentation
Johnson, S. B. (2012, December). Childhood obesity: A psychologist’s view of the way forward. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organiza- tion. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/governance/president/ childhood-obesity.pdf
Watch a video
Obesity Society. (Producer). (n.d.). The obesity epidemic -->. Re- trieved from http://www.obesity.org/news-center/the-obesity-epidemic. htm
Read an article
Johnson, S. B. (2012). The nation’s childhood obesity epidemic: Health disparities in the making. CYF News, 7(2). Retrieved from http://www. apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/2012/07/childhood-obesity. aspx
View a documentary
Prevention Institute. (Producer). (n.d.). We’re not buying it -->. Retrieved from http://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/supporting-healthy-food-activity/supporting-healthy-food-and-activity-environments-advocacy.html
Evaluation
PART 1: Establishing the Problem (Week 1)
Please complete the discussion self-assessment form on the Moodle course website. Each weekly self-assessment (whether a discussion self-assessment or peer and group-assessment) is worth 5% of your final grade, which means you are largely responsible for a significant percentage of your final grade for this course.
Conclusion
PART 1: Establishing the Problem (Week 1)
Once you have completed the discussion activities for the week, completed your discussion self-assessment form, and familiarized yourself with your a research/presentation group and the Wiki presentaion page, please continue to Part 2.
Credits
WebQuest adapted from:
Blakeslee, J.A. (2014). Childhood obesity: A TOPSS problem-focused unit. American Psychological Association. Available Online: https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/lessons/childhood-obesity.pdf