Week 3 Assigned Reading

Question 1

In New Zealand, what percentage of Pacific Island children under 17 were assessed as highly deprived?

a) 15%
b) 39%
c) 51%
d) 61%

Answer 1

c) 51%

“Using a questionnaire of ‘things that a family had to do without’ to measure deprivation, 51% of Pacific Island children under the age of 17 were assessed as highly deprived.”

Question 2

Which of the following factors was found to be more important in determining obesity among Pacific Island adolescents?

a) Cultural factors
b) Socio-environmental factors associated with poverty
c) Genetic factors
d) Educational factors

Answer 2

b) Socio-environmental factors associated with poverty

“A study of almost 2500 Pacific Island adolescents as part of the Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) project found socio-environmental factors associated with poverty were more important than cultural factors in determining whether a Pacific student was obese or not.”

Question 3

According to the reading, how does the cost per megajoule of potato chips compare to that of carrots?

a) Potato chips cost more per megajoule
b) Carrots cost more per megajoule
c) They cost the same per megajoule
d) The reading doesn’t provide this information

Answer 3

b) Carrots cost more per megajoule

“A recent estimate from the US puts the cost per megajoule for potato chips at 20 cents, while the cost for carrots is 95 cents.”

Question 4

What was the effect of a 10% tax on soft drinks in Mexico after 12 months?

a) Sales fell by 6% overall
b) Sales fell by 9% in low-income families
c) Sales increased by 6% overall
d) Both a and b

Answer 4

d) Both a and b

“After 12 months of a 10% tax, sales fell by 6% overall and by 9% in low-income families.”

Question 5

In Latner and Stunkard’s study, how did children rank the obese child in terms of desirability as a friend?

a) Most favoured
b) Second most favoured
c) Second least favoured
d) Least favoured

Answer 5

d) Least favoured

“In both 1961 and 2001 the child with no remarkable features was the most favoured friend and the obese child was the least favoured.”

Question 6

How did the spread between the top-ranked and bottom-ranked child change between 1961 and 2001 in Latner and Stunkard’s study?

a) It decreased
b) It increased
c) It remained the same
d) The study doesn’t provide this information

Answer 6

b) It increased

“Between 1961 and 2001 the middle order of the disfigured and disabled children changed somewhat but the spread between the top-ranked child and bottom-ranked actually increased over that time.”

Question 7

According to the reading, which of the following groups tends to show the strongest bias against obese individuals?

a) The general public
b) Employers
c) Health professionals working in weight management
d) Children

Answer 7

c) Health professionals working in weight management

“Appallingly, health professionals—especially those who work in the field of weight management—are among the worst offenders.”

Question 8

What was the outcome when a stigmatizing approach was initially taken towards the AIDS epidemic?

a) It was successful in reducing infection rates
b) It led to increased engagement with health programs
c) Those at risk of infection went into hiding
d) It had no significant impact

Answer 8

c) Those at risk of infection went into hiding

“It was a disaster. The public panicked, those at risk of infection went into hiding and engagement with programmes to reduce infection was low.”

Question 9

Which of the following approaches does the author advocate for addressing obesity?

a) Denormalisation
b) Destigmatisation
c) Increased individual responsibility
d) Stricter workplace regulations

Answer 9

b) Destigmatisation

“It’s essential that we adopt a strategy of destigmatisation in our public health approach to obesity.”

Question 10

According to the reading, which of the following has a low potential for stigmatisation in addressing obesity?

a) Workplace weight loss programs
b) Health education in schools
c) Taxation on unhealthy foods
d) Weight loss programs in primary care

Answer 10

c) Taxation on unhealthy foods

“…environmental solutions such as taxation or restrictions on the placement of fast food restaurants have a low potential for stigmatisation…”

Question 11

In the US study mentioned, how much less did severely obese men earn compared to average?

a) 3.5%
b) 9%
c) 19.6%
d) 25%

Answer 11

c) 19.6%

“…with severely obese men earning 19.6% less than average…”

Question 12

What percentage of overweight and obese women reported experiencing weight stigma from colleagues or co-workers?

a) 43%
b) 54%
c) 65%
d) 86%

Answer 12

b) 54%

“A survey of overweight and obese women found that 54% reported weight stigma from colleagues or co-workers…”

Question 13

At what age did a study find that 86% of children expressed an aversion to photographs of overweight children?

a) Kindergarten age
b) Elementary school age
c) Middle school age
d) High school age

Answer 13

a) Kindergarten age

“Sadly this prejudice develops very early. In an experiment with kindergarten-aged children 86% expressed an aversion to photographs of overweight children.”

Question 14

According to the reading, what is at the core of anti-obesity prejudice?

a) Cultural norms
b) Media influence
c) Belief that individuals can control their weight
d) Lack of education about obesity

Answer 14

c) Belief that individuals can control their weight

“At the core of anti-obesity prejudice is the belief that individuals can control their weight, and that obese people choose not to.”

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a potential environmental solution to obesity with low stigmatization potential?

a) Taxation on unhealthy foods
b) Restrictions on fast food restaurant placement
c) Workplace weight loss programs
d) Changes to urban planning to promote physical activity

Answer 15

c) Workplace weight loss programs

“…environmental solutions such as taxation or restrictions on the placement of fast food restaurants have a low potential for stigmatisation whereas endorsement of weight loss programmes through the workplace depends on behavioural change, targets obese individuals and is highly stigmatising.”

Question 16

In Aotearoa-New Zealand, obesity ____ correlate with low socioeconomic status (SES). The relationship appears to be ________

Answer 16

In Aotearoa-New Zealand, obesity does correlate with low socioeconomic status (SES). The relationship appears to be bidirectional, with both low SES contributing to obesity and obesity contributing to low SES:

Question 17

The reading cites a New Zealand study showing __% of Pacific Island children and __% of Maori children were assessed as highly deprived, compared to __% of European children. These ethnic groups also have higher obesity rates.

Answer 17

The reading cites a New Zealand study showing 51% of Pacific Island children and 39% of Maori children were assessed as highly deprived, compared to 15% of European children. These ethnic groups also have higher obesity rates.

Question 18

A study of Pacific Island adolescents found ____ _____ factors associated with poverty were more important than ______ factors in determining obesity. Low-income families were _____ likely to rely on takeaway food and _____ likely to eat fruits and vegetables due to ____ constraints.

Answer 18

A study of Pacific Island adolescents found socio-environmental factors associated with poverty were more important than cultural factors in determining obesity. Low-income families were more likely to rely on takeaway food and less likely to eat fruits and vegetables due to cost constraints.

Question 19

The reading states that obesity can cause poverty if ______ _______ __ _______ ______ _____.

Answer 19

The reading states that obesity can cause poverty if earning potential is reduced through illness.

Question 20

In what way do obese individuals face workplace discrimination?

Answer 20

Obese individuals face workplace discrimination, with lower chances of being hired or promoted.

Question 21

In what way do obese individuals face workplace discrimination?

Answer 21

Obese individuals face workplace discrimination, with lower chances of being hired or promoted.

Question 22

Consider this idea:

To combat obesity in suburb/city X, we should eliminate all fast food outlets and build additional grocery stores instead.

Do you think this tactic would effectively reduce obesity?

Argument for:

Answer 22

The reading notes that travel distances to fast food outlets were at least twice as far in wealthy neighbourhoods compared to deprived ones in New Zealand.

Reducing access to unhealthy food options could potentially decrease consumption.

Question 23

Consider this idea:

To combat obesity in suburb/city X, we should eliminate all fast food outlets and build additional grocery stores instead.

Do you think this tactic would effectively reduce obesity?

Argument against:

Answer 23

The reading states that supermarkets, while providing access to healthy food, are also sources of unhealthy food.

A UK study found that deprived neighbourhoods actually had better access to grocery stores selling fresh produce.

The reading suggests that lifestyles might be driving demand for fast food rather than the other way around.

The complexity of the issue suggests that targeted approaches based on area deprivation may not be effective.

Question 24

The reading notes that travel distances to fast food outlets were __ ____ ____ __ ___ in wealthy neighbourhoods compared to deprived ones in New Zealand.

Answer 24

The reading notes that travel distances to fast food outlets were at least twice as far in wealthy neighbourhoods compared to deprived ones in New Zealand.

Question 25

A UK study found that deprived neighbourhoods had _____ access to grocery stores selling fresh produce.

Answer 25

A UK study found that deprived neighbourhoods had better access to grocery stores selling fresh produce.

Question 26

The reading suggests that lifestyles ____ driving demand for fast food

Answer 26

The reading suggests that lifestyles might be driving demand for fast food rather than the other way around.

Question 27

Describe Latner and Stunkard’s study methods on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, including the follow up study.

Answer 27

The original study was conducted in 1961 and repeated in 2001.

Fifth and sixth graders from different schools were provided with cards showing sketches of children with various physical characteristics.

Children were asked to select the person they most wanted as a friend, one card at a time until all cards were ranked.

Question 28

Describe Latner and Stunkard’s study results on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, including the follow up study.

Answer 28

In both 1961 and 2001, the child with no remarkable features was most favoured, and the obese child was least favoured.

The spread between the top-ranked and bottom-ranked child increased from 1961 to 2001.

Girls had more aversion to impaired appearance, while boys had more aversion to impaired performance.

Obese children participating in the study didn’t differ from their peers in how they ranked the choices.

Question 29

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, the original study was conducted in ____ and repeated in ____.

Answer 29

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, the original study was conducted in 1961 and repeated in 2001.

Question 30

In _____ and _____ studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, the original study was conducted in 1961 and repeated in 2001.

Answer 30

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, the original study was conducted in 1961 and repeated in 2001.

Question 31

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, _____ and _____ graders from different schools were provided with cards showing sketches of children with various physical characteristics.

Answer 31

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, Fifth and sixth graders from different schools were provided with cards showing sketches of children with various physical characteristics.

Question 32

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, Fifth and sixth graders from different schools were provided with cards showing ________ __ ________ ____ _______ ________ ____________.

Answer 32

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, Fifth and sixth graders from different schools were provided with cards showing sketches of children with various physical characteristics.

Question 33

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, children were asked to select the person they ___ ______ __ _ ______, one card at a time until all cards were ranked.

Answer 33

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, children were asked to select the person they most wanted as a friend, one card at a time until all cards were ranked.

Question 34

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, In both 1961 and 2001, the child with __ __________ ________ was most favoured, and the _____ child was least favoured.

Answer 34

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, In both 1961 and 2001, the child with no remarkable features was most favoured, and the obese child was least favoured.

Question 35

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, the spread between the top-ranked and bottom-ranked child _________ from 1961 to 2001.

Answer 35

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, the spread between the top-ranked and bottom-ranked child increased from 1961 to 2001.

Question 36

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, ____ had more aversion to impaired appearance, while ____ had more aversion to impaired performance.

Answer 36

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, girls had more aversion to impaired appearance, while boys had more aversion to impaired performance.

Question 37

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, girls had more aversion to impaired __________, while boys had more aversion to impaired __________.

Answer 37

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, girls had more aversion to impaired appearance, while boys had more aversion to impaired performance.

Question 38

In Latner and Stunkard’s studies on adolescent attitudes towards obesity, did obese children participating in the study differ from their peers in how they ranked the choices?

Answer 38

Obese children participating in the study didn’t differ from their peers in how they ranked the choices.

Question 39

To reduce global obesity rates, should we denormalise or destigmatise obesity?

Answer 39

Toomath argues strongly for destigmatising obesity in public health approaches.

Question 40

To reduce global obesity rates, what is Toomath’s perspective?

Answer 40

Toomath argues strongly for destigmatising obesity in public health approaches.

She believes destigmatisation is essential to reduce the prevalence of obesity and prevent harm to individuals.

Toomath draws a parallel with the AIDS epidemic, where a shift from stigmatisation to normalisation led to better engagement with health programs.