Obesity in the United States and around the world is getting to be of epidemic proportions, with major economic, social, and psychological impacts on society. Its impact is evident in cost of health care, opportunity cost of lower productivity, emotional and physical suffering, and shorter life expectancy. Although obesity is the result of individual behavior, efforts to reduce it are initiated by many concerned parties. The question is, how effective are these efforts? The researchers are interested in knowing individuals’ attitudes about these efforts, specifically, the latest regulation of displaying calorie counts on menus of restaurants and its effects on their behaviors. The survey also covered consumers’ opinions regarding obesity, its causes, and what can be done about it. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of calorie count display on consumers’ eating habits, consumers’ attitude towards obesity as a societal concern, and their views about who is to blame and who should do something about the obesity problem. The study surveyed 226 consumers in the Southern California area. Results are analyzed, discussed, and used as basis for making recommendations to all parties concerned (i.e., individuals and families, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and food companies and restaurants) regarding their role to reduce obesity and its adverse economic, social, and psychological impact on society.
As health education specialists, we are called to practice what we promote. American adult physical activity levels are low, and too much time is spent sedentary. New habits can be learned early in adult life in the higher education setting. Most time students and faculty spend in higher education learning environments is spent while sedentary—this norm must change. Brain breaks in formal learning environments have worked well in K-12 schools; they can be incorporated into higher education in order to reengage students and improve their academic achievement. Brain Breaks are short (2-5 minutes), movement-based activities to break-up prolonged periods of sitting by students, thus increasing physical activity. Health and health-related college courses provide an ideal platform to begin adding back in brain breaks and active learning strategies where there has traditionally been little to none.
This study aimed to assess the correlation between physical activity (PA) levels and health locus of control (HLOC: internal, external-chance, external-powerful others, God/God locus of health control) among Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) and non-SDAs. The sample of this study included 185 individuals aged 22 to 81 who were employed by or attending an SDA affiliated higher education institution during the 2020-2021 academic school year. By completing the survey voluntarily, the participants provided their PA level and information regarding their HLOC. To analyze the impact of HLOC on PA, a multiple regression analysis was conducted. While overall results for a majority of respondents showed high levels of PA, SDAs reported statistically significant lower PA than did non-SDAs. HLOC (internal, external-chance, external-powerful others, God/God locus of health control) was not a significant predictor for PA.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.