"Origins of American Obesity" - Freshman Seminar

Instructors

• Michele M McDonough - 847/491-5061 - Hogan Hall, Room - 2-100
• Garth A Fowler - 847/491-5521 - Hogan Hall, Room 2-160

Meeting Info

• Pancoe Life Sciences 1-401 - TuTh 2:00PM - 3:20PM

• Overview of class

  In the late 1970s, approximately 15% of US Americans aged 20 - 74 were obese. Today that figure is over 33%, or approximately 100 million Americans! This trend continues despite our awareness of the health problems and costs associated with being obese. Discussions in this course will focus on variables influencing obesity. We will briefly review historical trends, touch upon biological influences on weight, and evaluate how psychology and economics may contribute to our eating behaviors and affect public health policy. Questions that will be explored include: What factors influence obesity? What realistically, can be/should be done to reduce the "obesity epidemic"? Is there a simple "cure" for obesity?

• Teaching Method

  Discussion: Class discussion
  Presentations: Student presentations
  Writing assignments: Written critiques
  

• Evaluation Method

  Short papers and assignments- 55%; presentations and class participation-30%; Term project- 15%
  
  NUMBER OF WRITING ASSIGNMENTS AND THEIR LENGTHS: 4-5 writing assignments (~ 3 pages), 1 term project and a small number of other short assignments

• Class Materials (Required)

  Reserved books, and selected articles and essays made available on blackboard

• Class Attributes

  Freshmen Only
  
  

• Enrollment Requirements

  Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Freshmen and Sophomores

Current as of 06/15/13 12:58:43 AM

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