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Katherine Segarra

Professor Dubey
Writing 39C- Spring
14 April 2014
Hunting Obesity: The Biggest Citys Big Problem
Supersize Me. Food Inc. Fast Food Nation. All of these films portray Americas current
struggle with its large overweight and obese population. As the second fattest nation in the
world (World Health Organization), the United States has garnered a negative reputation as a
haven for fast food and fatty meals. Though such a belief can be considered an exaggeration,
there is in fact, an obesity problem in the United States. To
the left, is a chart of recent findings from a Gallup survey
regarding the most obese US communities. Here, we can
see how over one out of every three Americans are obese
(Center for Disease Control), which means there are
multiple health and economic consequences in the future if
this problem is not solved. In order to explore the problem
of obesity as well as its causes and effects, this paper covers
the obesity problem in Huntington, West Virginia, the
fattest city in America. With scarce fresh foods resources,
a lack of proper education, and a largely impoverished population Huntington, West Virginias
has the highest obesity rate in the nation as well as a reputation in the media for being the
unhealthiest city in the United States. The impact of such a situation leads to negative effects
on population health which will create a strain on the citys economic and health care system.

Before discussing the causes and effects of the high obesity rate in the city of Huntington,
the term obesity and its prevalence in the United States must be defined in detail. According to
the Center for Disease Control, obesity is a label for (a) range of weight that is greater than
what is generally considered healthy for a given height. Body height and fat amount
comparisons, also known as a Body Mass Index (BMI), are used to measure if someone is at a
healthy weight or not. In the United States, 34.9% of the adults and 16.9 % of children are obese
or at a BMI of 30 or higher (Adult Obesity Facts). Zooming into the particular city of Huntington
is a statistic significantly higher than the national rate. A 2012 Gallup poll shows that
Huntington, West Virginia has an obesity rate of 39.5%. That means with its population of about
50,000 people (US Census Bureau), almost 20,000 people are obese. But the question is, why is
it a problem? The most obvious answer would be is that its not healthy. This is in fact true
because obesity increases the risk of a multitude of diseases beyond those of the heart. Cancer,
stroke, and arthritis are some of the health effects of obesity according to a published report by
the Trust for Americas Health and numerous reports by the Journal of the American Medical
Association. In addition, obesity can decrease the quality of ones life as well as have a
significant effect on the economy. With these effects, obesity in the United States has a
significant negative social, cultural, and economic impact on the country. Obesity is more than a
statistic, it is a problem that has multiple causes and effects. An initial question is how? How is it
possible for two out of every five people in a city to be obese? There is no one cause for obesity,
but rather there is a chain of occurrences that add up to Huntingtons current obesity rate.
Currently, Huntingtons high poverty rate and presence of a food desert are directly
contributing to the continuation of a high obesity rate. The citys poverty rate, as mentioned
before, is nearly 30% (US Census Bureau), which is more than twice as high as the national rate
at 13.4% . In addition to the abundance of a low income population, Huntington is also an area
considered to be a food desert which is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture
as urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable
food. A simple search on the USDA Food Access Research Atlas shows that a large portion of
Huntingtons low income population can only access supermarkets from a distance. The map
below shows the areas in the city where supermarket or food access is accessible to the low
income between .5 and 10 miles, which can be quite a distance for those who do not own a car.

Poverty and food deserts are direct causes for obesity for one reason: availability of healthy fresh
food. For those in poverty, foods that are cheaper and more accessible are more convenient to
shop for. However, the foods that are cheaper and more accessible to these people are processed
foods that are high in fat, sodium, and preservatives. Thus, consumption of these products in
frequency and abundance result in weight gain and Huntingtons current situation today. The
food desert contributes to such a problem because the lack of access to a supermarket or an area
with fresh produce prevents the purchase of cheaper, healthier goods. According to the map,
more than 30% of no-car families in certain parts of Huntington only have access to a grocery
store more than half a mile away. The inconvenience of these locations can deter people from
shopping at such a far distance, when a fast food place or convenience store can be located
nearby. Such poor access to healthy food resources directly causes a high obesity rate as it
prevents part of the population from receiving the full nutrition that they need. And even for
those with access to food at close proximity, the costs of purchasing more expensive fresh food
will be overcome by the cheaper prices of processed, factory made foods. But even with the
knowledge of these direct causes for the obesity rates, there are systemic failures that have led to
the continuation of such high rates.
The enduring obesity rates in Huntington are result of a failure of the local government
and community to react timely and properly to the problem as soon as it arose. In 2008, the
CDC published in an annual report, that Huntington, WV was the unhealthiest city in the United
States. The same year, the Associated Press released an article regarding the citys disregard for
the high obesity rate (Associated Press). In the article, it is explained how the residents of the
city suffer from a lack of information as well as a cultural acceptance of fatty and unhealthy
foods. The AP also covered the poverty issue in the city, explaining the people in poverty in the
area are more concerned about their financial situation rather than their current health situation.
With this failure of the community to react properly to the results of the CDC report, the obesity
rate in Huntington has remained the highest in the nation. A lack of proper government reaction
in 2008 has also contributed in keeping the obesity rate at a high level. In the same Associated
Press article mentioned above, the author mentions how the online Yellow Pages lists more
pizza places (nearly 200) for the Huntington area than the entire state of West Virginia has gyms
and health clubs (149). This comparison shows how Huntingtons lack of food and health
regulations have created this continuing loop of unhealthy consumption in the area. With no fast
food regulations or even portion size legislation, like the large size soda ban in New York City,
food consumption by the locals continues to be high in fats, sodium, and sugar. In an ABC TV
show The Food Revolution, professional chef and health advocate Jamie Oliver observes the
regulated food in elementary schools in Huntington. During the first episode, it is shown how
the children are served, as a part of government regulation, pepperoni pizza for breakfast and
potatoes as vegetable portions (Food Revolution, ABC). With insufficient policies that allow
conditions like these in schools, the obesity problem in Huntington continues. While today,
numerous coalitions such as the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition and organizations exist
to help provide healthy foods and food education, the inability to react to this situation has
prevented improvement in the city of Huntington. Even with several database searches, it was
difficult to find any report on city health legislation from the years of 2008 to 2010. And since
changes in health statistics take time to change and gather, obesity legislation has long term
effects but not many short term effects. Thus, the lack of government action in addition to a lack
of effort by the community in the past has not improved Huntingtons situation. Today, there is
newer national legislation as well as more organizations dedicated to providing healthy food. But
the effects will not be shown for a long time, and as a result, obesity remains a problem in the
small West Virginian city.
Without improvement, the abysmal health status of Huntington will create numerous
negative impacts on the obese populations health. Obesity, as it is a condition where there is an
excess amount of fat in ones body, raises the risk of several health problems (Adult Obesity
Facts). As the obesity rate in Huntington is at almost forty percent, thousands of individuals are
at a higher risk of health problems. In a study by researchers of the National Health Federation
(NHF), the costs of the current rates in the United States will create an extra 8 million cases of
diabetes, 6.8 million cases of stroke and heart disease, and 400,000 cases of cancer (Wang YC
et al. 3). The study also describes how obesity decreases population longevity and thus, will
result in premature mortality for those who develop these diseases. The burden of these diseases
will decrease the quality of life of the individuals affected by those who suffer from them.
Without interference, the continuation of obesity rates in Huntington will affect the health of
those who are overweight or obese. Instead of living a long, healthy life, the 39 percent of
Huntington may get sick and die earlier compared to the national average. This health effect is
the obesity effect that affects the population at the most personal level because it affects the
individual. But zoom out and create a larger picture and it is easy to see that obesity affects
larger systems like the health care system as well as the national economy.
Since obesity directly affects health, when a high percentage of the population is obese,
the health care system and the economy are negatively affected. In the same NHF study
mentioned above, data on the health care costs of obesity are described. The graph to the left
compares how a reduction in the
obesity rate would create a lesser
increase future health care costs.
With a zero percent obesity
reduction, BMI-related health
care costs would continue to
increase rapidly while a five
percent obesity reduction would greatly spare $500 million in obesity related spending in 2027.
Obesity is expensive and will create a strain on our current health care system. In a study by
obesity expert Eric Finkelstein, obesity in the United States can be attributed to a cost of $247
billion to $210 billion per year (Finkelstein). With such a high cost, the continuing rise of obesity
will cost both the Americans and the medical system more than is necessary. In Huntington, with
its relatively high poverty rate, this would be an unnecessary cost that some of the population
will not be able to afford. The problem with the high rate of obesity is that it requires spending
money, money that is not available for spending. Without interference, the costs of obesity to the
city of Huntington, in addition to loss of life, will include a pressure on the health care system
that will affect even the non-obese population. And obesity doesnt only mean spending money,
but it also can also mean losing money as well.
With obesity rates affecting the quality of an individuals life as well as health care
spending, the local economy of Huntington will be affected by the continuation of a high obesity
rate. The costs of health care have already been pointed out in the above paragraph, and that is
one of the major economic costs of obesity. Because health care in general is already expensive,
obesity makes these costs increase greatly. In addition, to that, economic productivity as well as
workers compensation claims are some of the effects Trust for Americas Health report points
out in another chapter of his study. According to the report, obesity is associated with increased
absences, lower productivity, and more sick days (Trust for Americas Health). Obese workers
are also shown to have higher costs of workers compensation (Trust for Americas Health). As a
result, economic productivity goes down. With a decrease in output due the prevalence in
obesity, the potential to make products and provide services goes down and thus, the economy is
affected. In Huntington, where 39 percent of the population may decrease economic potential,
the cycle of poverty and obesity continues. Without a decrease in obesity rates, the economic
stature of the city will not improve since employees and therefore, production decreases. And as
the economic status does not improve, neither does the obesity rate because it keeps the citizens
in a lower socioeconomic status where easy access, cheap fattening food is preferable over
healthier, more expensive foods. A vicious cycle of poverty and obesity will thus remain as long
as there is nothing done to improve the situation.
While organizations like the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition have been created in
recent years to combat the obesity rate, Huntington still has room for improvement. A 39 percent
obesity rate in this city has been recognized by the citizens and the local media. Jean Hardiman,
a writer for the local paper, The Herald Dispatch, recognizes Huntingtons need for reform in the
area (Hardiman). The obesity rate is not irreversible. Like any statistic, it can change in numbers,
for the worse or for the better. It is not too late to reverse the increasing obesity rate and with
proper education, effective health legislation, and local awareness and acceptance, Huntington
may avoid being dubbed the fattest city for another time.







Works Cited
"Adult Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a government agency that focuses on
the safety and health of Americans through preventative and active measures. This page
primarily focuses on defining the problems of adult obesity as well as who is affected and how it
affects the nation. The medium for this source is a web page and its genre is non-fiction health
information and statistics. In order to prove that obesity is an important and prevalent problem,
the page uses maps and statistics to show the frequency of obesity and how the frequency of
obesity has increased in recent years. In addition, the page describes a few of the poor health and
negative economic effects of obesity. The CDCs target audience are those who are interested in
an overview of the topic of obesity as well as those researching statistical data on obesity as the
page includes statistics as well as more links to other CDC web pages on obesity that have more
detail than this overview.
Associated, Press. "Fast-food Chains Cluster Near Schools, Study Finds." Charleston Daily Mail
24 Aug. 2005: n. pag. Access World News. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.

The Associated Press (AP) is an independent news agency that provides new articles and reports
to news agencies and subscribers like NBC, for example, publishes this AP article on their news
site regarding Huntington, WVs lack of both local government and local call to action after
being named the unhealthiest city in the United States. The medium of this article is a web page
and its genre is national news. To provide evidence for lack of an appropriate response, the
article uses quotes from concerned locals (for example, a nurse), health statistics of the city, its
poverty rates, and most importantly data on the numerous fast food and junk-food stores in the
area. This articles target audience are for people who read the national news and are curious on
the condition of other cities in America as well as those who are interested on the status of health
in the United States.
Associated Press. "W. Virginia Town Shrugs at Being Fattest City." Msnbc.com. Associated
Press, 17 Nov. 2008. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27697364/ns/health-health_care/t/w-virginia-town-shrugs-
being-fattest-city/
Dietz, William H. "An Insider's View of National Strategies to Control the Obesity Epidemic."
NIHCM. National Institute for Health Care Management, Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
http://www.nihcm.org/component/content/article/121-publications-expert-voices/742-an-
insiders-view-of-national-strategies-to-control-the-obesity-epidemic
Finkelstein, Eric. "Health Affairs." Annual Medical Spending Attributable To Obesity: Payer-
And Service-Specific Estimates. Health Affairs, Sept. 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/28/5/w822.abstract

The author, Eric Finkelstein, is an associate research professor at Duke Universitys Global
Health Institute and in this report, states the association between the rising rate of obesity and
rising cost of health care. The report is published in a monthly public health journal called
Health Affairs and is a message directed towards the medical community as well as the public. In
order to prove his point, Finkelstein uses data collected by government agencies regarding the
spending on health care as well as data on the rates of obesity spending per person. This reports
audience is for academics who are concerned about the specific effects of obesity on the health
care system as well as those who are interested in learning in detail about how much obesity can
cost.
Hardiman, Jean T. "Region Worst in Well-being." The Herald Dispatch. HD Media Company,
26 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. http://www.herald-dispatch.com/x56130810/Region-
ranks-at-bottom-in-well-being
Hirsch, Jerry. "Fast-food Locations Linked to Obesity." Charleston Daily Mail 24 Mar. 2014: n.
pag. Access World News. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
Miller, Tracy. "Boulder, Colorado, Is Fittest Place; Huntington, West Virginia Is Fattest:
Survey." NY Daily News. N.p., 07 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/colorado-fittest-west-virginia-fattest-
survey-article-1.1748470
Oliver, Jamie, prod. "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. ABC.
New York City, NY, 21 Mar. 2010. Television.
Raskin, Hanna. "Did Jamie Oliver Really Shape up Town?" CNN. Cable News Network, 19 Mar.
2010. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/18/jamie.oliver.fattest.town/
Riffkin, Rebecca. "Boulder, Colo., Residents Still Least Likely to Be Obese." Boulder, Colo.,
Residents Still Least Likely to Be Obese. Gallup, 04 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/168230/boulder-colo-residents-least-likely-
obese.aspx?ref=more
Shannon, Jerry. "Food Deserts: Governing Obesity In The Neoliberal City." Progress In Human
Geography 38.2 (2014): 248-266. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
"Study Highlights Big Fast-food Challenge in Area." The Herald Dispatch [Huntington, WV] 7
Apr. 2014: n. pag. Access World News. Web. 21 April 2014. http://www.herald-
dispatch.com/opinions/x1419398730/Study-highlights-big-fast-food-challenge-in-
area?r=mc&show=all
The Week Staff. "America's 'food Deserts' - The Week." The Week. The Week, 12 Aug. 2011.
Web. 12 Apr. 2014. http://theweek.com/article/index/218167/americarsquos-food-deserts
Trust for Americas Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation F as in Fat: How Obesity
Threatens Americas Future, 2012 Issue Report. September 2012. 14 April 2014.
http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2012/rwjf401318

This report is written several experts on the topic of obesity and as a whole, reports on the
terrible health status of the United States, the effects of high obesity rates, and how it may be
reversed. The information is published in the form of a report and it directed towards Americans
who are interested in learning about how obesity can create a negative effect on the nation as a
whole. The evidence used in this report varies widely, from statistics, surveys, articles published
in journals, and other health reports. The audience of the report would be citizens interested in
learning about the topic about obesity and its effects while its purpose is to provide further
education and possible solutions to this problem.
"WV HUB." Health & Food Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
http://www.wvhub.org/wvffc/health-food-justice

This page is about the health and obesity situation in West Virginia and is written by the West
Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, a state organization that seeks to provide fresh food and
promote healthy eating in the state. The medium of this page is through a website and its genre is
non-fictional and informational. The evidence used by the page includes statistics from the CDC
and statistics on the poverty and food desert areas of the state. The audience of this page would
be those interested in finding the purpose of the coalition as well as information regarding
attempts to provide fresher and healthier food to those who live in the state.
















Evaluations
"WV HUB." Health & Food Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This web page is a description of West Virginias state of health and food resources
by a food coalition dedicated to improving the states current status of health and food
availability. This information is important in understanding how local organizations are viewing
and reacting to the states statistic as being one of the unhealthiest in the nation. The page states
the obesity and overweight data of the state as well as how it ranks compared to other ones. This
is useful in finding condensed data on the current status of West Virginia. The page also delves
into the poverty rates and the food desert situation of the state. This is important in knowing that
the situation has been recognized by local organizations and is a problem that is being looked
into.
Evidence: There are no sources that are cited or linked to on the page, though some of the data
sources are mentioned such as the USDA, the CDC, and the Associated Press. The page also
provides a link to further research and data on hunger, poverty, and local foods which directs
the user into the Resources page of the Coalitions website.
Timeliness: The page does not state when it was last modified or published but the information
provided on the page appears current as well as relevant. Although some of the data dates back
five to seven years, it is still important because it gives a good view of where the obesity and
overweight rates were in the past. It is also important because rates are reported often several
years behind due to the fact that surveys of populations of such a large magnitude take several
months to gather and analyze. So these rates that are behind five to seven years can be
considered rather recent.
Miller, Tracy. "Boulder, Colorado, Is Fittest Place; Huntington, West Virginia Is Fattest:
Survey." NY Daily News. N.p., 07 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This article is a NY Daily News article that again describes Huntingtons status as
the most obese city in the United States. What makes this article relevant is not just the subject
matter, but its publisher as well.
Evidence: This is not a local, West Virginian newspaper rather, a national one that derives its
information from the same Gallup survey as the other articles I have used. This article indicates
that such a problem has been nationally recognized in the media and not just locally.
Timeliness: The article is considered timely as it was published in early April of this year.
"Adult Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This is an informational web page from the Center for Disease Controls website
about the status of adult obesity in the United States and how it affects health. It is a short
summary of the current statistics, made for readers interested in the topic.
Evidence: The evidence used by this web page is mainly from CDC studies and reports about
obesity. It also uses studies that show the effects of obesity on the population.
Timeliness: The timeliness of the site is rather current, as it was last updated in March 2014,
indicating that the information provided on the page is recent.
Trust for Americas Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation F as in Fat: How Obesity
Threatens Americas Future, 2012 Issue Report. September 2012. 14 April 2014

Relevance: This report is an annual report by the Trust for Americas Health which is a non-
profit organization that is focused on reporting and solving health issues in the United States.
The report covers data regarding the 2012 state of American obesity and overweight and overall,
health in the nation. It also describes in specifics, the various negative health effects of obesity
and obesity rates can increase the possibility of developing several diseases in later life. For a
brief time, the report covers economic effects of obesity and how higher BMI correlates with
lower productivity and increased health care costs. The latter part of the report covers legislation
passed by schools and the government in response to the obesity epidemic. The information in
this report is important as it covers the various effects and possible solutions to obesity and will
help me in providing information about how obesity affects the lives of Americans.
Evidence: The report uses a multitude of sources, majority of which are studies conducted by
both the government and private companies. The report cites the sources of the information it
describes in a seven page bibliography at the end of the report, indicating that the writers of the
report thoroughly researched the topic in order to compile the data into the hundred page report.
In addition, the information is presented in a professional and unbiased manner as to inform the
reader about a situation that needs to be fixed.
Timeliness: The report was published in the September 2012, about a year and a half ago.
Though it seems not too recent like news reports, it is still timely because data and statistics take
several months to gather and therefore, a report like this is one of the most recent because more
current statistics have not yet been published. Obesity and overweight rates also do not fluctuate
too much over the course of two years, so this information will still be valid to this day. In
addition, the health and economic effects of obesity do not change over a few years. Even though
the effects were described in 2012, todays the obesity health and economic effects do not differ.
The Week Staff. "America's 'food Deserts' - The Week." The Week. The Week, 12 Aug. 2011.
Web. 12 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This article by the staff of The Week Magazine is about the specific topic of food
deserts and the definition of the problem. The format of the article is a question and answer
format and it covers the problem of food deserts itself as well as its effects and how it can be
solved. This article is relevant to my research because it shows how the media defines food
desert to the public and it also provides a brief description of the food desert itself.

Evidence: The article provides evidence for its statements by citing not only the studies and
reports regarding food deserts but quotes from experts on the topic as well. The article uses
information from the USDA, the University of North Carolina, the University of Washington and
Princeton University.

Timeliness: The article was published in 2011, making it about three years old. Though it has
been a few years since the article was published, it is still relevant because the definition of food
deserts (which is majority of the article) has not changed. The effects of a food desert has also
not changed. The numerical data on the food deserts will not be used as part of my paper, but
only the definition and effects are the important facts that are useful to my research.

Associated Press. "W. Virginia Town Shrugs at Being Fattest City." Msnbc.com. Associated
Press, 17 Nov. 2008. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This is an online article published by MSNBC and written by the Associated Press
about Huntingtons lack of proper reaction to being named the unhealthiest city in America.
The article is a non-fictional news report that describes the poverty situation in Huntington and
how that contributes to the ever present obesity epidemic in the city. The article covers the
problem of not obesity, but also health issues that arise from it and how local unawareness is
present and contributing to the problem. This article is an important one as it shows how
Huntingtons obesity rate has continued at such a high rate for several years.
Evidence: The main evidence in this article are quotes from locals in Huntington who were
interviewed by the Associated Press. It also uses statistical information in the report, like the
health and obesity statistics of the city.
Timeliness: This article was published several years ago, in 2008. Though that is not recent, I
find still useful because health legislation is long term legislation and therefore, inaction years
ago contributes to the health status of Huntington today.
Riffkin, Rebecca. "Boulder, Colo., Residents Still Least Likely to Be Obese." Boulder, Colo.,
Residents Still Least Likely to Be Obese. Gallup, 04 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This article is a Gallup article that summarizes recent obesity and health finding
conducted by Gallup. It reports on the health status of several United States cities, rating them
either one of the healthiest or the unhealthiest.
Evidence: Evidence in the article is derived from the statistics of a Gallup poll as well as the
survey methods used by the survey takers.
Timeliness: The report is a timely one, as it was published in April 2014, indicating that the
information is recent.
Hardiman, Jean T. "Region Worst in Well-being." The Herald Dispatch. HD Media Company,
26 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This is an article from the local Huntington newspaper about the health situation in
the city and how it was once again named the unhealthiest in the nation. The article covers the
health statistics of the region as well as reactions from both government officials and citizens. Itd
describes the problem of obesity and how it affects health as well as how the city has tried to
combat it.
Evidence: The articles evidence is in the form statistics from reported studies like the Gallup
survey. It also uses quotes from interviews with citizens, local officials, and health professionals.
Timeliness: This article was published in March 2014, thus making it a recent article with
updated and timely information about the situation in Huntington today.
Oliver, Jamie, prod. "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. ABC.
New York City, NY, 21 Mar. 2010. Television.

Relevance: The show, Jamie Olivers Food Revolution, is a documentary style show that follows
an experienced school food reformer and chef, Jamie Oliver, as he tries to educate the locals of
Huntington, WV. The first season of the show is filmed in Huntington and depicts the health and
food situation in the city. Oliver visits schools and tries to reform the lunch program, as well as
educate the locals in order to achieve his goal of making a change in the city. This show is
particularly important because it highlights the individuals of Huntington and their lifestyles as
well as how and why such an obesity rate exists in the city.
Evidence: The show mainly uses filmed interviews to document the situation in Huntington. It
also uses health statistics and information to implement lessons about food and lifestyle changes
for the people features on the show.
Timeliness: The show premiered a few years ago in 2010, which means it was probably filmed
around 2009 to early 2010. Although it is a few years old, it is still relevant because the show
depicts the culture and the attitude of some of the people in Huntington, WV. It is also a good
form of video evidence of the situation instead of a report on paper.
Finkelstein, Eric. "Health Affairs." Annual Medical Spending Attributable To Obesity: Payer-
And Service-Specific Estimates. Health Affairs, Sept. 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Relevance: This report is an article by obesity experts for the health journal Health Affairs and it
discusses the economic effects of obesity and how costly the continuation of the obesity
epidemic may be. The article describes the status of obesity in the United States, how it affects
the health care system, the economic repercussions of such effects, and how a decrease in the
obesity rate can create a positive chain of effects in the spending in Medicare and Medicaid.
Evidence: The reports evidence is mostly statistics from other studies and surveys regarding
obesity in various populations as well as health care expenditure in relation to the rise in obesity
rates.
Timelness: The report was published five years ago, in 2009, but its analysis about obesity is
still relevant because the obesity rate has no decreased since then. Instead, it has increased and
the economic effects described in the report are still relevant because the change has been for the
worse. The numerical data in the report may be different in todays situation however, the trend
of rising costs and obesity is not.

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