Epidemiology of Childhood Obesity Research Paper

Epidemiology of Childhood Obesity - Research Paper Example In epidemiology, there are certain steps done systematically to successfully cure diseases (Page, Cole & Timmreck, 1995). The first step is to identify the problem, or the disease, then make a community or a population assessment by determining whether there are actual or potential health problems present. In this step, questions such as which among the population is the least or the most susceptible is determined. By performing demographic profiling, it can determine the percentage of individuals affected, and can be a reliable indicator of the overall health of the population (Yarnell, 2007). This step is followed by the determination of the causes of the disease. After having a conclusion as to how an ailment affects individuals, epidemiologists give out information on what the disease is, as well as causes, effects and prevention methods. The last step would be on the hands of an individual and his or her personal decisions after being informed about a certain disease. The person can choose whether to do actions that could prevent the onset of the disease or just do nothing to prevent it (Page et al., 1995). Diseases can be studied either by the number of affected individuals in a given population (quantitative epidemiology) or by studying the causes and effects of the disease in the affected individuals (qualitative epidemiology), which are both important in determining risk factors (Yarnell, 2007). In order to search for the causes of diseases, a model is used in determining those factors. Figure 1. The Epidemiology Triangle The epidemiology triangle is a traditional model used in determining the causes of diseases (Page et al., 1995). The vertices consist of the host, or the carrier of the disease, the agent or the cause of the disease, and the environment where the host and the agent are brought together (ibid.). Another part of the triangle is TIME, or the incubation period before a disease becomes full blown (Merril & Timmreck, 2006). After all compon ents of the formation of the disease are identified properly, epidemiologists break the legs of the triangle, disrupting the connections between environment, host and agent in order to prevent the outbreak of the disease and prevent it from spreading. However, in non-infectious diseases this triangle model is not always reliable due to some particular components that are not easily classifiable whether they are agents or environmental (Page et al., 1995). This paper would be tackling the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, and attempt to create a disease model as well as to list the steps in its prevention, focusing on presentation of qualitative obesity epidemiology. Definition of Obesity Body mass index or BMI is used to determine whether a person’s weight is below normal, normal, or above normal, which can be overweight, obese or morbidly obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2011). A percentage of at least 25-30% fat in the body can consider a child as fat (Williams et al., 1992). BMI that is 25 up to 29.9 is overweight, and beyond that is considered obese. Being obese, or obesity is defined as an excessive or abnormal accumulation of fat that presents various risks to health (WHO, n.d.). Problems that can arise from excessive fat include high blood pressure and cholesterol, increased impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, breathing

Explain (with examples) the extent to which SSM was supportive of a Essay

Explain (with examples) the extent to which SSM was supportive of a group approach - Essay Example Today, SSM has become a useful tool in any situation (or problem) involving human activity. Take for instance this trivial situation of two friends watching TV and arguing if the programs were good or bad. Using the SSM model, there will be no point arguing because both are right. Friend A may like it because of the pact action sequences and Friend B may not like it because the plot is too predictable. Whichever it is, SSM model argues that the standard for a good TV programs is inherent in both and one value judgment is not necessarily superior or more right than the other. If these ideas were explicit, the two friends may still argue on some points but their ideas would cease being unsubstantiated opinion and become defensible. Wilson (2001) points that defensibility should be the main criterion in an argument since ‘what is right’ in most cases, is likely unachievable. Such concept is important to complex situations in any social organization that capitalizes on defen sible arguments. This report will then put primary focus on SSM supporting group approach by discussing how SSM rallies group dynamics. Checkland introduced the steps to be followed methodically in SSM. The first step being the identification of the unstructured problem – is best accomplished as a group. For example, when the A.REthinking group was tasked to identify an ill-structured problem, it became easier to consolidate and develop ideas because feedbacks, whether positive or negative, help process and systematize insights. The more diverse the members’ backgrounds are the more enriching the discussion will be. Wilson discussed that the â€Å"people-components† can attribute meaning to their situation and define their own purpose for the organization. Checkland’s collaborators even suggested that the real potential of SSM is best exemplified in its early stages since it is the period when members of the organization achieve

Charles Manson and the Tate-Labianca Murders Essay Example for Free

Charles Manson and the Tate-Labianca Murders Essay On August 9, 1969 the seven innocent victims of the Tate-LaBianca murders were senselessly slain by a vicious cult and their leader Charles Manson†¦ Manson’s childhood was a troubled one, he was born Charles Milles Maddox on November 12, 1934 to sixteen year old Kathleen Maddox in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly after his birth, his mother married William Manson which gave him the name that is so well known today. Manson never knew his birth father. Not much is known about him other than he was a â€Å"Colonel Scott† of Ashland, Kentucky. In 1939, Kathleen was sentenced to prison for armed robbery, and a young Charlie spent the majority of his youth living in the homes of relatives and numerous boys homes. At the age of nine Charlie started his criminal career by burglarizing homes and stealing cars. Manson’s first violent offense came in 1952 when he sodomized another boy while holding a razor blade to his throat during his stay at a reform school. He was released in 1954 at the age of nineteen and met a young woman  named Rosalie Willis. They married in 1955 and a year later had a son, Charles Manson Jr. One month after the birth of his son, Manson was arrested for stealing cars and sentenced to three years which he served in San Pedro, California; his wife filed for divorce. After his release in 1958, Manson made a living by pimping, stealing checks, and conning women out of money. During this time he met and married a woman by the name of Leona and had a second son named Charles Luthor Manson. Leona divorced Manson after he was arrested yet again in 1960 and sent to McNeil Island Penitentiary. While serving his six year sentence Manson met a man by the name of Alvin â€Å"Creepy† Karpis, who happened to be a former member of Ma Barker’s gang. Karpis taught Manson to play the steel guitar which led to his obsession with music. Manson devoted much of his time in prison to practicing and writing music and held the belief that he would be a famous musician. Upon his release on March 21, 1967, Manson moved to San Francisco, California and began to collect a following of people. In 1968, Manson and several of his followers drove to Southern California where he met Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. Through Wilson, Manson was introduced to Doris Day’s son Terry Melcher. Manson believed that Terry was just the person that could help further his music career and was very upset when things did not work out. During this time the Manson Family moved into Spahn Ranch where Charles started piecing together his own philosophy based on a number of different religions. According to his interpretations of Revelations 9 and the Beatles’ song Helter Skelter, Manson also believed that there was a race war that was to take place in the summer of 1969 during which all of the black people were going to slaughter the white people. When this â€Å"war† did not take place Manson told his Family that they should â€Å"show the blacks how to do it†. (Rosenberg, 2010) On August 8, 1969, Manson ordered several of his Family members to kill any people inside the house at 10050 Cielo Drive. This house formerly belonged to Terry Melcher but was now being rented by Sharon Tate and her husband Roman Polanski, who happened to be in Europe on business at the time. Manson told his followers to â€Å"do something witchy†. After midnight on August 9th, Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian walked up to 10050 Cielo Drive where they brutally shot and stabbed their first five victims; Steven Parent, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring and Sharon Tate. Tate was eight months pregnant with both her and Polanski’s first child. Manson criticized his followers on the â€Å"messy job† that was done and took them for a drive later that night to look for more victims. Early the next morning Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were stabbed to death. On the wall and refrigerator was written â€Å"Death to Pigs† and â€Å"Helter Skelter†. It took authorities several months to discover who was behind the attacks. On November 6, 1969, while being held on an unrelated charge, Family member Susan Atkins told a fellow inmate of her participation in the Tate murders. She also admitted to being the one who wrote â€Å"PIG† on the Polanski doo r with Sharon’s blood and a towel. It was not until July 24, 1970 that Charles Manson, along with Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten, and Patricia Krenwinkel stood trial for the murders. The women were three out of the five Family members involved in the crime. Manson insisted on representing himself at trial, Ronald Hughes was assigned as assisting council in the case and to represent the girls. In March, Hughes suggested that Manson bring in attorney Irving Kanarek, who was known for his obstructionism tactics. Manson agreed and two weeks before the trial began he introduced Kanarek as his council. Hughes then moved his primary defense to Leslie Van Houten, who was said to be the least devoted to Manson. The prosecution was led by Vincent Bugliosi; his main goal in the case was getting a first degree murder conviction for Charles Manson. He planned to accomplish this by proving that Manson dominated his Family, with the prosecution’s star witness Linda Kasabian. This would prove to be an easy accomplishment. Kasabian agreed to testify when the prosecution made a deal for her immunity. In 1969, Kasabian, the married mother of two who had left home â€Å"in search of God†, met and fell in love with who a friend had described as â€Å"a beautiful man named Charlie† (Linder, 2008). Six weeks after Kasabian had joined the Family, Charlie decided that it was â€Å"time for Helter Skelter† (Linder, 2008). She then rode with Tex and the other defendants to the Tate house and witnessed the horrific killings of Steven Parent, Abigail Folger, and Voytek Frykowski. Although Kasabian was present for the murders,  she did not enter the house nor did she directly participate in them. She was quoted as saying to Manson, â€Å"I’m not like you Charlie, I can’t kill anyone† (Linder, 2008). She later rode with Manson and the others to the LaBianca house where she stayed outside and did not see the murders. Three days after the murders took place Kasabian left the family to rejoin her husband. She later turned herself into police in order to tell her story. Before she was able to return home to her family, Kasabian took the witness stand. While on the stand for eighteen days, she testified to everything that was done or said from the moment they left the ranch until they returned after the LaBianca murders. Prior to the Manson trial, Hughes had never tried a case and it showed early in the trial. Although using his knowledge of the hippie culture, he was able to raise some questions about Linda Kasabian’s testimony by pointing out that she had used hallucinogenic drugs and believed she was a witch. He also questioned her credibility by stating that she believed in ESP and would get â€Å"vibrations† from Charlie. Hughes’ main goal in Van Houten’s defense was to separate her from the rest of the defendants by showing that she was not acting of her own free will but was being controlled by Manson. It was said that Manson was not happy with the defense Hughes was offering Van Houten. In the last weekend of Novem ber, Hughes failed to show up for court and was never seen alive again. His body was not found until four months later and was badly decomposed. At least two of Manson’s Family members claimed that it was a retaliation killing for Manson. On January 25, 1971 a jury found all four defendants guilty of first degree murder in the Tate-LaBianca case. Two months later in March the jury sentenced all four to death. However, the principal actor in these murders, Tex Watson was yet to be tried. After the murders Tex returned to Texas where he was later arrested. He fought the extradition proceedings just long enough to get his own trial. In October 1971 Charles â€Å"Tex† Watson was convicted of seven counts of first degree murder. He would have received the death penalty if it was not for the California ruling that the death penalty was unconstitutional which also converted all four of the previous defendant’s sentences to life in prison. The Tate-LaBianca case has been the topic of controversy since it started in 1970. Some people claim that the trials were biased based on the fact that Manson and his followers chose to live a â€Å"hippie† lifestyle which  included the use of a number of drugs as well as free sex amongst each other. There was also a statement that president Nixon made claiming that Charles Manson was guilty whether it was directly or indirectly. Nixon claimed that he said this in order to criticize the media for glorifying criminals. Whatever the reasoning was behind this remark the defense in the case attempted to use it to have the case thrown out stating that an unbiased jury was now impossible. The judge denied the request however, and the trial continued. Whether the jury was biased or not the fact remains that these five individuals are responsible for the killings of at least seven innocent people and possibly countless others and should be punished for their crimes. Reference: Linder, D. (2008). The Defendants and Other Key Figures. In Trial of Charles Manson. Retrieved from http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/manson.html Linder, D. (2008). A Chronology and Selected Images. In Trial of Charles Manson. Retrieved from http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/manson.html Rosenberg, J. (2010). Biography of Charles Manson. In 20th Century History [Biography]. Retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/p/charlesmanson.htm Bardsley, M. (2010). The Trial. In Charles Manson and the Manson Family. Retrieved from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/manson/2.html

The Effect Of Tourism On Peoples Lifestyle Tourism Essay

The Effect Of Tourism On Peoples Lifestyle Tourism Essay According, Gawler believed that tourism is effecting to economic and lifestyle of people in each area of tourism. Tourism has fears that is expanded to tourism and related to badly react or mass tourists. Anyway, tourism can be both positive and negative impacts on countries. Moreover, Mirbabayev and Shagazatova said that nowadays, tourism is the largest factor of economic. Tourism is evolving in economic activities. Various sectors of economy have affected from growing development rates; infrastructure development, foreign currency inflows, and new management. They can be contributed to the social and economic development in big part of the country. Also, Lehmann (2005) explained that there are three distinct parts: direct, indirect, and induced in the total economic impact of travelers First, the direct impact is the value added of those sectors that interact directly with the visitor. Second, the indirect impact is the benefit to suppliers to those direct sectors. Third, the induced impact adds the impact of tourism-generated wages as they are spent in economy. In addition, Rattanasuwongchai (1994) told that Tourism is the fastest growing industries and can generate national income in developing economies. Same as the other, Thailand has a tourism that is a major source of national income. Although tourism had some negative effects, it has covered all level. Otherwise, Sugiyarto, Blake, and Sinclair (2002) defined that tourism took place within a large context of the world economy. Besides, Sherpa (2006) said that tourism is a major economic activity providing livelihoods to poor people. Moreover, Bartsch (1998) said that Tourism conducted tourists visiting the village. They can get extra income and took advantage by offering accommodation to tourists. Likewise, Khadka (1996) explained that International tourism is a fast growing in economic factors. It increased in national income. Meanwhile, Albqami (1997) said that Tourism had received more attention in nowadays. Tourism stimulated to the economic growth. Similarly, Suntikul (2008) told that Tourism has a difficult problem. Tourism is accepting as the economic and societal importance of tourism activity. However, tourism has poorly managed within its economy, social, and environmental contexts. The meaning of the impacts of tourism cannot be properly assessed. Advantage of tourism impact According, Gawler (2001) believed that the advantages of tourism are economic development. Tourism is helping to support communities, particularly in rural areas. There are little dependences on urban centers and imports to sustain tourism activity as we called decentralised. Tourism development often brings a range of benefits to host communities. Improved infrastructure power, water, and telecommunications, services (banks, transport) and new investments, all serve to enhance the lifestyles of communities. Tourism can make a sense of community pride in their location. Tourism can exchange for cultural between communities and visitors. Tourism creates regional identity both nationally and internationally. Conservation area efforts and provides effective management of significant areas can get the fund for conservative and management. Tourism can promote the preservation. Otherwise, Mirbabayev and Shagazatova supported that Tourism can be both a source of international peace and understanding. Here are possible positive effects of tourism: Tourism is developing positive attitudes towards each other culture and learning about each others culture and customs. Also, Tourism is reducing negative perceptions and stereotypes. Tourism is developing friendships and developing pride, appreciation, understanding, respect, and tolerance for each others culture. Finally, Tourism is increasing self-esteem of hosts and tourists. Similarly, Lehmann (2005) said that tourism consists of share of the retail, transportation, restaurant, lodging, and entertainment industries directly contribute to the travel sector. Tourism directly gave nearly $1.64 billion in Palm Beach County on 2004. Meanwhile, Sugiyarto, Blake, and Sinclair (2002) defined that the levels of GDP and employment are increased by tourism growth. Trade, tax and balance of payment can increase by tourism activity. Additional, Albqami (1997) said that tourism industry is increased; the industry will need to purchase more input in the economy to produce the additional output. These purchases will stimulate additional output. Disadvantage of tourism impact According to, Rattanasuwongchai (1994) told that a huge number of tourists exploit natural resources. Tourism has a heavy impact on the environment. In addition, tourism needs more infrastructures, transportation and other facilities which can cause environmental suffering. Tourism caused environmental pollution from human waste, sewerage into water sources, and trash. Without strict regulations in land using, most hotel may invade the preservative areas. It can be cause of declining in participation in rural traditional. Similarly, Bartsch (1998) explained that Tourism in Ban Chaidee is does not replace any other activity, and agriculture which is still regarded by people as most important economic activity. Environmental damage and government policies have decreased the traditional resources of the villagers. The pollution caused by tourists, noise pollution late at night. Moreover, Khadka (1996) explained that Environmental and socio-cultural depletes may make tourism unsustainable. These factors can also be regional in their nature or impact. Otherwise, Sherpa (2006) said that tourists had a negative effect to loss of rural culture. In additional, Suntikul (2008) told that tourists took a critical the cultural in tourism practice, and the host culture. Tourism is introducing negative impacts to Luang Prabang.

It’s Time to Take the Christ Out of Christmas :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

It’s Time to Take the Christ Out of Christmas Christmas in America is an exuberant display of human ingenuity, capitalist productivity, and the enjoyment of life. Yet all of these are castigated as "materialistic"; the real meaning of the holiday, we are told, is assorted Nativity tales and altruist injunctions (e.g., love thy neighbor) that no one takes seriously. In fact, Christmas as we celebrate it today is a 19th-century American invention. The freedom and prosperity of post Civil War America created the happiest nation in history. The result was the desire to celebrate, to revel in the goods and pleasures of life on earth. Christmas (which was not a federal holiday until 1870) became the leading American outlet for this feeling. Historically, people have always celebrated the winter solstice as the time when the days begin to lengthen, indicating the earth's return to life. Ancient Romans feasted and reveled during the festival of Saturnalia. Early Christians condemned these Roman celebrations--they were waiting for the end of the world and had only scorn for earthly pleasures. By the fourth century the pagans were worshipping the god of the sun on December 25, and the Christians came to a decision: if you can't stop 'em, join 'em. They claimed (contrary to known fact) that the date was Jesus' birthday, and usurped the solstice holiday for their Church. Even after the Christians stole Christmas, they were ambivalent about it. The holiday was inherently a pro-life festival of earthly renewal, but the Christians preached renunciation, sacrifice, and concern for the next world, not this one. As Cotton Mather, an 18th-century clergyman, put it: "Can you in your consciences think that our Holy Savior is honored by mirth? . . . Shall it be said that at the birth of our Savior . . . we take time . . . to do actions that have much more of hell than of heaven in them?" Then came the major developments of 19th-century capitalism: industrialization, urbanization, the triumph of science--all of it leading to easy transportation, efficient mail delivery, the widespread publishing of books and magazines, new inventions making life comfortable and exciting, and the rise of entrepreneurs who understood that the way to make a profit was to produce something good and sell it to a mass market. For the first time, the giving of gifts became a major feature of Christmas. Early Christians denounced gift-giving as a Roman practice, and Puritans called it diabolical.

Emotional Bank Accounts Essay

We all do things that are counter-productive to our relationships. We all like to have people be nice to us. The concept of an emotional bank account is powerful, yet not quite as simple as keeping a ledger of debits and credits. One of the problems is the perception of worth. What is a â€Å"deposit† worth. We may think it is quite valuable. The affected person may consider it so routine it is not even remembered. The trick in making deposits is to know what value the act has for the person holding the account. Herzberg was a psychologist who studied motivational factors in American industry. He came up with the conclusion, since quoted out of context, that money is not a good motivator of people. He called things like money, a safe work place, security and such fundamentals â€Å"hygiene† factors. That is, the employee needed them to be there and assumed they would be there. They were not, however, efficient in motivating job improvement. Herzberg found that various methods of showing personal appreciation were far more important. A company golf team, a compliment, a letter of commendation, a corner office, painting an employee’s name painted on a parking place and such activities were more efficient in motivation. Do you agree? Many students do not. To many people, money is a prime motivator. How then did Herzberg come up with his findings? Is he wrong? No, we have to understand another theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow was also a psychologist who studied motivation and found that people had needs that varied with their circumstances. If you are living in the weeds, any job that provides 3 hots and a cot is your dream. You think you would never want anything else. But when you get that job, those needs are satisfied and you quickly want more. Maslow said the second stage was to want security. You want those physiological needs to be there in the future, not just today. And, if you get that security, you then go to stage three where you want a feeling of belonging to a group that reflects your values and goals. If you get this feeling of belonging, you then go to a stage where you want to be singled out and honored. The last stage is one where you  have all those needs met, so you want to contribute in some special way to something greater than yourself. Herzberg did his studies in a shop where people had stage one and two pretty much assured. Those physiological elements did not motivate because they were already met. Those people were at the stage where they either wanted to belong to a group or be singled out for honors. The ability to read another person and determine what is important to them is critical. This gets back to our emotional bank account deposit value. Similarly, actions may have different withdrawal value to different people. To someone who is feeling very insecure because of seeing everyone around them being dismissed in a general layoff, a curt word may have them dusting off their resume and reacting very defensively. It may not have been intended in that way but its effect is the important thing. Our success in keeping a good emotional bank account with other people then depends upon our sensitivity to the values that other people hold, not our own. This sensitivity is difficult for most of us as we often have â€Å"tasks† to do and keeping track of the effect of our actions and words may not be high on our list of things to do at the moment. Yet, in the long term, nothing is more important. I once heard someone say of a particular organization, â€Å"this place is not about competence, this place is about relationships†. I think that is true of just about any organization.

The Theme of Perfection and Imperfect in the Poem ‘God’s Grandeur’

In the poem ‘God’s Grandeur’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins, the theme of imperfection and perfection is highlighted. The majority of the poem is a contrast between imperfection and perfection. The first stanza discusses the contrast between the two themes; perfection and imperfection, while in the second stanza; God’s perfection is mainly spoken about. Perfection The mere title of this poem suggests the poem is about something great and powerful. The word ‘grandeur’ is defined as splendour and impressiveness. This word is frequently used when referring to appearance or style and is a synonym and implication of perfection.Therefore, the poem’s title is suiting and signifies God’s perfection and His grace. In the poem, the earth and nature is also seen as a symbol of perfection, as it is made and controlled by God. This is evident in line one, which quotes â€Å"The world is charged with the grandeur of God. † This shows that natu re is seen as pure and it is renewed at this point to be slowly changed by imperfections such as man. In line six it is stated that ‘all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with soil; And wears man’s smudge and man’s smell. However nature is relentless and proves itself to always be perfect, no matter how many attempts man tries to destroy it, it just always finds a way bounce back what harm man does to it. Lines nine and ten state ‘†¦nature is never spent; there lives the dearest freshness deep down things. ’ These phrases clearly prove that the earth will not lose its purity due to man. The Holy Ghost’s presence with vitality and life and al luminous things are what keep the earth together, with warm breath and bright wings. ImperfectionIn the poem ‘God’s Grandeur’ the theme of imperfection directly deals with the attitude and the action of man. God has blessed man with a wonderful earth, a natural home with abund ant resources to help man to survive, but unfortunately man has become blind and ungrateful. For centuries man has destroyed the earth for selfish gain. This can be shown by the phrase ‘the soil is now bare’, which gives the image of a desolate, dry earth whose resources were used for the wrong purposes. The phrase ‘nor can foot feel’ hich contains an example of alliteration and also imagery, shows how man has separated himself both physically and spiritually from nature and the earth which God has blessed them with and consequently they are also separating themselves from God. The poet’s tone of gratitude and awe throughout most of the poem clearly shows his disappointment of man’s treatment to the earth due to ignorance selfishness and ingratitude which contribute to man’s imperfection. Even the phrase ‘why do men then now not reck his rod? ’ show that the poet does not understand why man does not give God the thanks and respect that He is due.Unfortunately man does not realize that by trying to help themselves , they are actually hurting themselves , since they are destroying something that is keeping them alive. Most of the book of Matthew chapter five , especially Matthew 5:48 which states ‘you therefore must be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect’ clearly shows that due to man’s sin , such as selfishness, hatred, ignorance and in relation to the poem the misuse of God’s blessings , which contribute to man’s imperfection, can resultantly separate us from God.