Obesity and Physical Activity

Question 1

What are some health effects of obesity?

Answer 1

many cancers (breast, endometrial, lung, colorectal),

Question 2

Some studies have done targeted interventions making personalized weight loss programs for people. Do these work? What happens when the program is over?

Answer 2

Work in the short term, but when the study is over they stop working (participants no longer have someone making the program for them)

Question 3

Name a few ways to measure the food environment.

Answer 3

• Observed or self-report survey
• look at availability of indicator foods (low fat milk, produce)
• analyze menus, nutrients, sales of foods
• there are others, these are some main ones

Question 4

What is a food desert?

Answer 4

Reduced access to nutritious and affordable food

Question 5

Would you consider Potomac a food desert? Why or why not?

Answer 5

I wouldn’t- generally people in Potomac have access to cars and a high income so even if the grocery store is 5 or 10 miles away, they can still easily get there (they also probably have the time)

Question 6

Name an example of policy aimed at improving the food environment.

Answer 6

Health bucks
Healthy bodegas
Green carts
Calorie labeling
SNAP benefits for farmers' markets
Using cartoons to market healthy foods to kids

Question 7

Name at least two reasons why physical activity research focuses on walking (as opposed to tennis or general activity).

Answer 7

• Walking is accessible to everyone (rich, poor or wherever)
• walking can have a purpose (transportation)
• walking can be for fun/ leisure

Question 8

List different methods for measuring walking. (be able to think of pros and cons of each)

Answer 8

Direct observation, self report frequency questionnaires/time-use surveys, sense cams, accelerometers/pedometers, GPS

Question 9

What are the consequences of not measuring your exposure properly, whether the ‘exposure’ is physical activity or exposure to an environmental pollutant?

Answer 9

Misclassification- any conclusions drawn from that exposure data will be flawed

Question 10

What characteristics make a neighborhood more walkable in your opinion?

Answer 10

Well-lit, safe (low crime), walking paths, pretty scenery

Question 11

Compare and contrast suburban and urban neighborhoods in terms of walkability.

Answer 11

Urban is better in terms of being able to walk to stores, work, etc BUT suburban is probably better for leisure walks (this is totally opinion btw)

Question 12

How do people’s self-reported physical activity compare to objective measurements with an accelerometer?

Answer 12

People report more physical activity than they actually do