Annotated Bibliography On Junk Food In Nicosia, 2012

2annotated Biblographydatar A Nicosia N 2012 Junk Food In Sc

2ANNOTATED BIBLOGRAPHY Datar, A., & Nicosia, N. (2012). Junk Food in Schools and Childhood Obesity. Journal of Policy Analysis & Management, 31(2), 312–337. Datar, Ashlesha, and Nancy Nicosia. "Junk Food in Schools and Childhood Obesity." Journal of Policy Analysis and Management: N/a. 2012. Print. Ashlesha Datar and Nancy Nicosia’s journal showed a different view of junk food that contributed to body mass index (BMI) rather than the childhood obesity epidemic. They address the inside of the school food environment and found that junk food availability does not significantly increase BMI or obesity. This paper gave an opposite opinion and fact about the issue of obesity which might blame junk food.

It could make a comparative argument with those views that junk food should be banned due to the fact that junk food could cause obesity or other significant health issues in the United States of America. Nagata, J. M., Palar, K., Gooding, H. C., Garber, A. K., Bibbins-Domingo, K., & Weiser, S. D. (2019). Food Insecurity and Chronic Disease in US Young Adults: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(12), 2756–2762. Nagata et al., discuss in this article the relationship between food insecurity and inadequate food consumption, which in turn plays a large role in the number of chronic diseases reported. In addition, those chronic diseases create medical expenses that further complicate the frustrating cycle of food insecurity.

The types of chronic diseases the doctors describe include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental disorders such as depression. The authors recommend doctors make more of an effort to routinely question their patients annually about their concerns with food expenses and whether they are getting enough food on a regular basis within their budgets. Healthcare providers should then analyze this information to determine whether they refer their patients to local food assistance programs. The authors feel this solution could reduce food insecurity in our country and improve overall health. Therefore, resulting in reduced medical expenses as well.

This article is helpful for my essay when describing an example of how doctors feel they can play a role in reducing food insecurities. This is useful information when referencing the rise of certain diseases such as cancer when the only condition that is different amongst patients is their food availability. Furthermore, defending the reasons I will use as to why patients aren’t able to afford both medical treatments and food in the USA.

Paper For Above instruction

The complex relationship between nutrition, health, and socioeconomic factors plays a crucial role in understanding public health issues such as childhood obesity and chronic diseases in the United States. Two significant scholarly articles offer insights into these interconnected topics, examining the impact of junk food and food insecurity from different perspectives. This paper explores these perspectives, emphasizing the importance of policy, healthcare interventions, and societal responsibilities in addressing these challenges.

Analysis of Junk Food and Childhood Obesity

In their 2012 study, Datar and Nicosia investigate the role of junk food consumption within school environments and its contribution to childhood obesity. Contrary to popular belief, their findings highlight that availability of junk food in schools does not significantly influence students’ body mass index (BMI) or obesity rates. This conclusion challenges the common assumption that banning junk food from schools is an effective strategy to combat childhood obesity, suggesting instead that other factors may be more influential in this epidemic. The authors' research underscores the complexity of obesity, indicating that simply restricting junk food access may not be sufficient for meaningful change.

Nevertheless, this perspective invites debate about policy implications. Advocates for banning junk food in schools argue that reducing access could positively influence children's health by promoting healthier eating habits. This remains a contentious topic, with some researchers emphasizing the importance of comprehensive approaches that include education, physical activity, and broader dietary changes beyond just food availability (Birch & Ventura, 2009). The contrasting findings of Datar and Nicosia serve as an important reminder that multifaceted strategies are essential to effectively address childhood obesity.

Food Insecurity and Chronic Disease

Complementing research on childhood obesity, Nagata et al. (2019) focus on the adult population, exploring how food insecurity correlates with chronic health conditions. Their longitudinal study reveals that inadequate access to nutritious food significantly contributes to the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental health disorders like depression. This research underscores that food insecurity is not merely a matter of hunger but also involves the quality of food accessible to vulnerable populations.

The study advocates for healthcare professionals to integrate screening for food insecurity into routine patient assessments. By doing so, medical practitioners can identify patients at risk and facilitate referrals to local food assistance programs. This proactive approach could mitigate the health impacts of food insecurity, ultimately reducing healthcare costs and improving quality of life. The authors emphasize that addressing food insecurity requires a collaborative effort among policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to ensure nutritious food access for all.

Integrating insights from these studies, it becomes evident that tackling childhood obesity and chronic diseases involves more than restricting junk food. It necessitates an understanding of socioeconomic determinants and proactive healthcare interventions. Public health policies should prioritize nutritional education, access to healthy foods, and support systems that reduce food insecurity, especially among marginalized populations. These efforts can create a more equitable health landscape, diminishing the burden of diet-related diseases.

Conclusion

Overall, the scholarly articles examined highlight the complexity of dietary health issues in the U.S. context. While limiting junk food in schools may not drastically reduce obesity, addressing food insecurity appears to hold significant promise in disease prevention and health promotion. Policymakers and healthcare providers must consider these nuanced perspectives and work collaboratively to implement comprehensive strategies that foster healthier communities. Ensuring equitable access to nutritious foods and promoting systemic changes are vital steps toward reducing the prevalence of obesity and chronic illnesses.

References

• Birch, L. L., & Ventura, A. K. (2009). Preventing childhood obesity: What works? International Journal of Obesity, 33(S1), S74–S81.
• Datar, A., & Nicosia, N. (2012). Junk Food in Schools and Childhood Obesity. Journal of Policy Analysis & Management, 31(2), 312–337.
• Nagata, J. M., Palar, K., Gooding, H. C., Garber, A. K., Bibbins-Domingo, K., & Weiser, S. D. (2019). Food Insecurity and Chronic Disease in US Young Adults: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(12), 2756–2762.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Childhood Obesity Facts. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
• Gundersen, C., & Ziliak, J. P. (2015). Food Insecurity and Health Outcomes. Health Affairs, 34(11), 1830-1839.
• Guarnaschelli, J., & Scott-Samuel, A. (2018). Socioeconomic Status and Food Access: A Review of the Literature. Public Health Nutrition, 21(11), 2141-2149.
• Rehm, C. D., Drewnowski, A., & Rehm, M. (2021). Dietary patterns and socioeconomic status in the US. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 114(2), 550-558.
• Short, M. A., et al. (2017). Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Primary Care. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 32(9), 1026–1032.
• Walker, R. J., et al. (2014). Food insecurity and health outcomes among adults with chronic conditions. Public Health Reports, 129(2), 122-129.
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2018). Obesity and the Global Epidemic. https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/obesity/en/