PBS Frontline

"Fat"

"The world loves fat. It's what food industry executives say adds precious flavor and "mouth-feel" to our foods, and what doctors say adds detrimental calories to our diets. 91 million Americans are considered obese-defined as twenty percent above ideal body weight-and the incidence of obesity is rising around the globe. Today, inundated by tens of thousands of food ads each year, influenced by a standard of beauty built on being thin, and fighting a primal craving, we are losing the war on fat."

(Home page)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/fat/

(What experts say) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/fat/etc/experts.html

  1. This video begins with a look at two different communities of Pima Indians, one is a "community in crisis" the other, a group in a rural mountain community, are healthier and have a far lower incidence of diabetes. Explain the lifestyle and health differences between these two communities.

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  2. What does Dr. Cowen mean when he says we live in a "food toxic" environment? (see experts web link)

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  3. Explain the problems that Dr. Willet mentions by describing food as an industrial product. (see experts web link)

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  4. Dr. Stephen Blair explains the problem of medically assigning individuals an "ideal weight". The case of triathelete David Alexander illustrates this problem. Explain why it so difficult to place individuals on medical ideal weight charts. (see experts web link)
  5. What surgical steps does Dr. Cowan make for people he believes to be morbidly obese?

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  6. Describe briefly how this program illustrates the prejudices that young children have toward "fat" people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Briefly summarize that life of Lynn McAfree and the courage she demonstrates.