Tag: assignments

Changing habits

Read the following article. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/10/28/can-brain-science-help-us-break-bad-habits Answer the below questions fully and in full sentences.

  1. According to the article, is willpower all you need to change your health habits for the better? Why or why not?
  2. What does the article mean by “chunking?” Give an example of a health-related action you take that is “chunked.”
  3. What does the article mean by “friction?” Give a health-related example of more or less “friction” that impacts you (do not use the examples in the article – come up with another example).
  4. Does providing information about something that helps or harms our health enough to get people to change their behavior? Why or why not?
  5. Describe a health-related habit you have that you would like to change. What are some environmental changes you can think of that would help you?
  6. Think of the same health-related habit you described above. What is a positive thing you can substitute for this habit?

Weight of the Nation extra credit assignment

Watch Weight of the Nation documentary, Consequences

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pEkCbqN4uo

Answer the below questions fully.

  • What is BMI? How is it defined? How is it used? The BMI does not really measure percent fat, which is body composition. What would be a better way for doctors to measure their patients’ health?
  • Describe the Bogalusa Heart Study. What did the Bogalusa Heart Study show?
  • What health issues and diseases that are related to obesity did the movie discuss?
  • What are the different influences/risk factors on rates of obesity?
  • The movie shows several cities in the US, and the maps of different neighborhoods and their rates of obesity and diabetes. Why do different neighborhoods have different rates of obesity?
  • Why is it important that more children are becoming overweight and obese?
  • Define ideal cardiovascular health. (7 factors) What are some health behaviors that can help people reach ideal cardiovascular health?
  • What is fatty liver disease? Why is it dangerous? How can it be prevented?

Unnatural Causes extra credit assignment

Go to the BMCC Library website – http://lib1.bmcc.cuny.edu/ and click on Databases. Select Video Databases, then select Kanopy Streaming Videos. If you are not on campus, you will have to log in with your BMCC log-on (the same credentials you use to log into computers on campus). When you are in the Kanopy database, search for Unnatural Causes. Your result will say Collection on it. Watch the movie titled In Sickness and in Wealth.  Answer the below questions fully.

  • Define social determinants of health from the readings and from the movie. Give examples from the movie and your own life. Is the US the healthiest nation in the world? Why or why not?
  • What are some health behaviors that lead to illness?
  • What did the Whitehall study show about the connection between health and wealth? Define the wealth-health gradient.
  • How do the lives of Jim Taylor, Tondra Young, Corey Anderson and Mary Turner exemplify concepts like the wealth-health gradient and the importance of power and control? What does comparing data maps of disease rates in the different Louisville council districts show us? What might explain the differences in life expectancy, rates of disease and rates of excess death?
  • Describe examples from the film that illustrate how racism imposes an additional health burden on people of color. Give examples of both “everyday” racism (being treated unfairly) and “structural” racism (access to resources, power, status and wealth) and describe how these might affect health in different ways.
  • What kinds of employment, education, housing, or transportation polices do we need today to promote health equity? Think about some of the programs and policies that other industrialized countries in the world have. What obstacles and opportunities exist now in the United States of America? Are there any programs or policies that you have seen in your neighborhood or community?

Sexuality: Gonads extra credit assignment

Listen to any of the episodes of the Radiolab Presents: Gonads podcast series here https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/projects/radiolab-presents-gonads.

  • Summarize the episode in your own words.
  • List at least three new things you learned.
  • How did the information you heard support your previous thoughts about sex, reproduction, gender, or fertility?
  • Did the information you heard challenge any of your previously held assumptions about sex, reproduction, gender or fertility? How?
  • Write at least 2 unanswered questions you still have about this topic. Where could you find this information?
  • Try to find an answer to your questions. Cite the source you used here.

Food diary extra credit assignment

Keep a food diary for 1 week (include the diary with this assignment). Write down everything you ate and drank every day that week. If you are eating packaged food, write down the number of calories you consumed, as well as the amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats (in grams), as well as fiber, sodium, and any other vitamins and minerals. Otherwise, use your favorite calorie/food tracker website or app (a popular one is https://www.myfitnesspal.com/). Answer the following questions:

  • Use a calorie calculator online – like this one from MyPlate. On average, how many calories did you eat in a day? Do you think it’s hard to estimate how many calories you ate? How many calories should you eat in a day, according to MyPlate? Consider your sex, age, activity level and body size.
  • Do you think you are eating the correct proportions of protein, carbohydrates, fiber and fats every day? If not, which nutrients are you missing and which do you eat too much?
  • Are you eating the right servings of foods, as recommended by MyPlate? What is missing? What do you eat too much?
  • What is one short-term change do you think you can make to your diet to make it more balanced?
  • What are some long-term changes do you think you should make to your diet?      
  • What are barriers that prevent you from eating more fruits and vegetables? What could help you overcome those barriers? This can be your own behaviors or something in your community or neighborhood that could help.