Additional Resources
Below are additional resources provided for further information and research on this topic
Scholarly Articles
http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v29/n8/full/0802994a.html
The International Journal of Obesity provides results from a study that a handful of doctors conducted in which they attempted to observe whether or not there was a relationship present between use of information and communication technology and prevalence of obesity. The primary measurement gauged in this experiment was each individual's BMI value compared with the number of hours spent in front of a screen each day and then measured intermittently over the course of a year to determine if there was an increase or decrease in BMI levels. Their overarching purpose was to quantify tangible evidence in order to support proposed theories and common sense that were already assumed to be true. Though the results discovered what they had previously anticipated, the correlation between high body mass index levels and number of hours spent in front of the screen weren't able to be deemed statistically significant. However, significant or not, this study still supports the notion that there is indeed a negative effect that having countless screens in this country has on our levels of obesity because it promotes a much more sedentary lifestyle and lazy personality.
The International Journal of Obesity provides results from a study that a handful of doctors conducted in which they attempted to observe whether or not there was a relationship present between use of information and communication technology and prevalence of obesity. The primary measurement gauged in this experiment was each individual's BMI value compared with the number of hours spent in front of a screen each day and then measured intermittently over the course of a year to determine if there was an increase or decrease in BMI levels. Their overarching purpose was to quantify tangible evidence in order to support proposed theories and common sense that were already assumed to be true. Though the results discovered what they had previously anticipated, the correlation between high body mass index levels and number of hours spent in front of the screen weren't able to be deemed statistically significant. However, significant or not, this study still supports the notion that there is indeed a negative effect that having countless screens in this country has on our levels of obesity because it promotes a much more sedentary lifestyle and lazy personality.
websites
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/WeightManagement/Obesity/Obesity-Information_UCM_307908_Article.jsp
This is a great resource to get an overview of what obesity is. The American Heart Association is a trusted and reliable source for medical information and statistics about the issue. The link specifically gives short, yet concise information on what obesity is, obese population data, and issues that may arise due to being obese. It will not go into great depth on the issue or on how technology has affected obesity, so beware that it is only a gateway website to give some base knowledge of the health issue.
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html
The Center for Disease Control website provides the audience with a clear and exhaustive display of what obesity truly is, the potential dangers associated with being overweight, and how to prevent and combat this rising epidemic. There is a specialized branch within the CDC called 'Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, that is intentional about implementing policies and strategies to make a lifestyle available for everyone. If you ever have and questions about current obesity levels or what we as a country are doing to combat them, then this is the place to go !
Popular Articles
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48757019/ns/health-fitness/t/spending-technology-equals-more-obesity-study-shows/#.UQC8DY6OdqE
This article that MSNBC presents condenses their argument to the notion the increasing spending on technology revolving around information and communication within this country causes a corresponding increase in levels of obesity. There are statistics and other reputable sources cited that support the allegations surrounding this aforementioned relationship between increased spending and obesity. Another bright facet to this article is that it suggests other reasons for such high obesity levels and acknowledges that there are other factors at play other than just the increased spending. In saying this, however, the article stresses that we need to be aware of this false theory that increasing spending will decrease obesity levels and search for new avenues of success.
http://nejm200.nejm.org/essay/technology-obesity-a-new-relationship/
This article provides a plethora of solid reasons as to why further down the road technology will be what allows us as society to climb out of the current valley of obesity that we are in. One of the respectable aspects to this website is that it does recognize the fact that technology has negatively impacted our health in this country, however, it is incredibly optimistic about the fact that with technological improvements will also come health improvements. Finally, this article lays out the facts and practical ways in which the technology in this world has and will impact the health of our country.
This article provides a plethora of solid reasons as to why further down the road technology will be what allows us as society to climb out of the current valley of obesity that we are in. One of the respectable aspects to this website is that it does recognize the fact that technology has negatively impacted our health in this country, however, it is incredibly optimistic about the fact that with technological improvements will also come health improvements. Finally, this article lays out the facts and practical ways in which the technology in this world has and will impact the health of our country.
Blogs
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/09/25/can-personal-technology-stop-the-obesity-epidemic/
This blogs main focus was on how technology can be used to stop/ prevent the obesity epidemic. It looked at some of the methods use to aid in prevention of obesity mentioned at the Obesity Society annual scientific meeting this past fall. The main topics mentioned by the blogger was on how to present information through technology to teenagers to encourage them to be more physically as well as how it can be communicated to adults. First, the blog mentioned the use of text messages to teenagers that were deemed "healthy choice texts." These were messages fall along the line of reminding them to drink more water and get out and take a walk. This method was found non-influential to the teenagers. The second portion of the blog mention the Zamzee device given to a group of teenagers. This device is worn on the adolescent all day long and at the end of the day they are able to connect the device to their computer and track their results. I felt that this blog presented quality information that allows the reader access to do further research on the presented individual topics. The authors writing style was straight forward and factually based. I felt that the amount of statistics present was appropriate for keeping the reader informed and showing that credibility. Overall, I felt that this blogger did an adequate job on presenting the information and supplying information for further research to be done on any of the topics presented.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20075471-247/problematic-internet-usage-more-common-than-asthma/
This blog is essentially about the continued skyrocketing levels of media consumption by preschoolers all the way up to college students within this country. The comparison in which the blogger utilizes to make a relate able comparison that the audience is able to understand easier is the idea of 'Internet over-usage' now being more prevalent than asthma. Furthermore, a study is discussed in which over 600 children who fall within the ages of three to five years, experience increased sleep problems for every additional hour a child was exposed to violent media content or evening media. The overarching concept of this blog can be summed up in the following quote given by Dr. Dimitry Christakis, 'Given the Internet is woven into the fabric of the lives of this generation of children, concerns about the potential for addiction are warranted and today's college students are clearly at risk.' The author buys himself some credibility by incorporating a couple different studies that conducted research concerning the negative effects of Internet over-usage on the ability of individuals to experience a proper night's sleep. Furthermore, the author implemented a few different quotes from esteemed members of the research field that support this aforementioned claim through their own personal research. Ultimately this blog provides an intriguing claim supported by evidence accrued from various credible resources and sheds light on an important issue that the audience needs to be made aware of.
http://www.annettevee.com/2012fall_techandculture/2012/09/08/technology-and-obesity/
This blog is about how technology has impacted our lives in one way or another. Some people curse technology and think it was a horrible invention, where as others are on the other side of the argument and absolutely love it. The expectations for technology has been surpassed. The iPhone's and other technology inventions of today have helped simplify our lives. Due to the fact we rely on technology so much, it is often hard to see the negative affects it has on us. One of the major problems today that is most prevalent in children is obesity. When you think back to 15-20 years ago, kids would be outside all day. It seems like nowadays kids are inside playing video games or watching TV all day. Scientists are concerned about how big of a contributor technology is in causing kids to be overweight. The question the blogger asks at the end is whether its technology in today's society or individuals and their families?
When I think back to my child hood, all my siblings and I did all day in the summer was go outside and play. No matter what our neighborhood friends would always be outside too. In today's world most kids would rather sit inside on the couch and watch TV. I nanny four boys in the summer, the two older ones who are into sports and are very active tend to get caught up playing on their iPod. If I don't encourage them to go outside and play, they will stay inside all day playing Xbox or games on their ipod. It's actually very sad to see how much has changed since my childhood 10-15 years ago until now. The author of this blog talks about how the advancements in technology are seen as both good and bad - which brings up valid points. If I were to have written this blog I would have touched more how the negatives and positives of technology correlate with obesity. The article was written in a very simple and understanding way.
http://men.webmd.com/features/7-ways-hightech-gadgets-could-be-hurting-you
In this blog it touches on the fact that there are a lot of different health problems caused by video games and obesity is just one of them. Technology has taken a negative effect on our society because we've given it the power to. Technology is a big contributor to insomnia, computer vision syndrome, stress injuries, hearing damage, risk of life, and asthma. If you think about all these contributors, with having these problems you may not have the ability to go work out. Unfortunately, technology, and video games more specifically, has created a mass amount of problems in which have resulted in a vast amount of health issues.
This blog is about how technology has impacted our lives in one way or another. Some people curse technology and think it was a horrible invention, where as others are on the other side of the argument and absolutely love it. The expectations for technology has been surpassed. The iPhone's and other technology inventions of today have helped simplify our lives. Due to the fact we rely on technology so much, it is often hard to see the negative affects it has on us. One of the major problems today that is most prevalent in children is obesity. When you think back to 15-20 years ago, kids would be outside all day. It seems like nowadays kids are inside playing video games or watching TV all day. Scientists are concerned about how big of a contributor technology is in causing kids to be overweight. The question the blogger asks at the end is whether its technology in today's society or individuals and their families?
When I think back to my child hood, all my siblings and I did all day in the summer was go outside and play. No matter what our neighborhood friends would always be outside too. In today's world most kids would rather sit inside on the couch and watch TV. I nanny four boys in the summer, the two older ones who are into sports and are very active tend to get caught up playing on their iPod. If I don't encourage them to go outside and play, they will stay inside all day playing Xbox or games on their ipod. It's actually very sad to see how much has changed since my childhood 10-15 years ago until now. The author of this blog talks about how the advancements in technology are seen as both good and bad - which brings up valid points. If I were to have written this blog I would have touched more how the negatives and positives of technology correlate with obesity. The article was written in a very simple and understanding way.
http://men.webmd.com/features/7-ways-hightech-gadgets-could-be-hurting-you
In this blog it touches on the fact that there are a lot of different health problems caused by video games and obesity is just one of them. Technology has taken a negative effect on our society because we've given it the power to. Technology is a big contributor to insomnia, computer vision syndrome, stress injuries, hearing damage, risk of life, and asthma. If you think about all these contributors, with having these problems you may not have the ability to go work out. Unfortunately, technology, and video games more specifically, has created a mass amount of problems in which have resulted in a vast amount of health issues.