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Overweight States: Obesity StatisticsStudent Information Page 4A

Activity Introduction:Have you ever heard an adult around you say that they need to lose weight? Chances are that they really might. The number of people who are obese has been increasing steadily over the last 20 years. In this activity you will research the trends of obesity of a given state and create an informational brochure that communicateswhat you have learned.

Activity Background:The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study from 1985 to 2005 onthe obesity levels by state. The results are alarming. All states had an increase in the percentof adults who are obese. Obese is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.For a person 5’4” that would be about 30 pounds overweight. The latest data from TheNational Center for Health Statistics show that 30 percent of US adults, 20 years and olderare obese.

This increase is not limited to adults. The percentage of young people who are overweighthas more than tripled since 1980. Among children and teens aged 6-19 years, 16 percent areconsidered overweight.

These increasing rates are worrisome because of their implications for American’s health.Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions,including the following:

• Hypertension • Osteoarthritis • High total cholesterol • Sleep apnea and respiratory problems • Type 2 diabetes • Coronary heart disease • Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)• Stroke • Gallbladder disease • Mobility problems

The bottom line is that obesity is a chronic disease that is on the rise. It affects quality of life,health and lifespan. Obesity and related diseases can begin in the middle school years sonow is the time to do something about it.

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Activity Materials:• State Population Data Table (provided by your teacher)• State Obesity Data Table (provided by your teacher)• Brochure Mock-up (provided by your teacher)• U.S. Map • Books on obesity and related diseases• Computers (1 per pair of students)• Microsoft Excel 2003®• Microsoft Word 2003®• Microsoft Publisher 2003®• 1 Copy Student Information Page (per group) • 1 Copy Student Data Page (per student)

Activity Instructions:Part 1: Crunching the numbers.

n Pick a state out of the bag and let the teacher know which state you get.

n Find your state on the US map and familiarize yourself with its location and shape.

n Find the population data for your state on the provided data table and record the populations on your data sheet for the years 1985, 1995, and 2005.

n Find the obesity data for your state for the years 1985, 1995, and 2005 and record it on your data sheet.

n Calculate and record the estimated number of people who would be considered obese in your state for the given years. (Show ALL your work)

n Find the percent obesity increased between 1985 and 1995 and between 1995 and 2005. (This is what you will use to enlarge clip art later)

n Ask two fellow students to check your calculations and sign the data recording sheet if they agree with your solutions. If they do not agree with your solutions, go back and recalculate. *Note to checkers: if you do not agree with their answer, DO NOT SIGN their sheet.

Minnesota

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Part 2: Making a graph.n Open Microsoft Excel®n Create a table that shows your states populations at years 1985,

1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. When you enter the year use an apostrophe followed by the last 2 digits of the year. For example: ’85. This prevents problems creating a graph.

n Highlight the information in your table and click on the “chart wizard”.

n Select “line graph” for your chart type and “line with markers” for your sub-type and click “next”.

n Under the “data range” tab, make sure “columns” is selected and click “next”.

n Step 3 of 4 has six tabs to go through. First, title your chart, and x and y axes.

n Under the “axes” tab, make sure “x and y axes” are checked.n Under the “gridlines” tab, click “major gridlines”.n Under the “legend” tab, uncheck “show legend” because it

is unnecessary.n Under the “data labels” tab, check “value”.n Under the “data table” tab, uncheck the “show data table” and

click “next”.n Step 4 is to select a location for your chart. Select “as object in”

and click “finish”.n Save your work at this time (This graph will be added to

your brochure).

Part 3: Making the Percent Model. (This should take a 45 minute class period)n Have students meet you in the computer lab.n Open Microsoft Publisher®.n Create a blank document.n Click the Table button at the top.n When the dropdown menu appears choose “insert” and then “table”.n Insert 10 for both the number of rows and columns.n Table format should be “none”.n Resize your table by clicking and dragging from a corner. The goal is to make a 10

by 10 square grid.n Right click on the table and click “format table”.n Under the colors and lines menu click the button that provides an outline

as well as interior lines to your table.

n The weight of the line should be 1 pt.n Refer to your data recording sheet to determine the percent obese at the

1985 benchmark year.n Fill the correct number of squares with the color of your choice to

represent the percent obese in 1985.n Repeat this process two more times for benchmark years 1995 and 2005.n Save this document on your student folder as obesity percent models.n You will copy and paste these tables into your brochure document at a later time.n Record your solutions on the data recording sheet.n Ask two fellow students to check your calculations and sign the data recording sheet

if they agree with your solutions. If they do not agree with your solutions, go back and recalculate. *Note to checkers: if you do not agree with their answer, DO NOT SIGN their sheet.

Part 4: The Research. (Record your findings on the brochure mock-up)n Find and record causes of obesity. (Researcher 1) Take turns with

Researcher 2 with the books and the internet.n Find and record effects of obesity. (Researcher 2) Take turns with

Researcher 1 with the books and the internet.n Be sure you can answer basic questions about causes and effect of

obesity like “what is type 2 diabetes?”n Find ideas on how to reduce obesity. (Both students)

Websites to visit:CDC Websitehttp://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/index.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm

Surgeon General Websitehttp://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/index.htm

National Institutes of Healthwww.nih.gov

National Heart Lung and Blood Institutehttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

Americans with Disabilities Act Websitewww.ada.gov

National Diabetes Information Clearinghousehttp://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/

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Part 5: The Brochure.n Complete the brochure mock-upn Get teacher approval on mock-up to begin the digital brochure.n Open Microsoft Publisher ®.n Select “Publications for Print”.n Select “Brochures”.n Select an “Informational Brochure” Template.n Select a 3 panel layout.n Using your mock-up, complete the brochure.n Copy and paste the percent models from Microsoft Publisher®.n Copy and paste the table from Microsoft Excel®.n Copy and paste the line graph from Microsoft Excel®.n Do the information first, and then you can spice

it up with color and pictures.n Check your brochure and data sheets against the rubric.n Get approval to print.n Print.