A recent CNN Health article titled, “’Freshman 15′ really 5 or 7, but the gains don’t stop,” covers the issue of weight gain in college students. The author tells us that doctors say the “freshman 15” is really only 5 to 7 pounds, and that the real problem is that students do not stop gaining weight after freshman year, but continue to gain weight throughout the rest of their college years also. Studies showed that men gained significantly more than women but that both men and women had gradual weight gain through all 4 years of college. It is suggested that this gradual weight gain is even more problematic because it puts students at a much higher risk of obesity. Some possible explanations for weight gain in college students include more alcohol consumption, more socializing that involves eating, high-fat foods in cafeterias, and little physical exercise.

The problem with gradual weight gain is that it is easy for it to go unnoticed because it is happening so slowly. I think that college students need to be aware of what they’re eating and how to stay healthy so that they can avoid the consequences of weight gain. By being conscious of the health factors of weight gain, college students can develop healthy eating habits so that they don’t fall into the patterns of gradual weight gain. I’m sure it is very difficult to resist eating the unhealthy food when it is so easy to access, but statistics show that there are great consequences that come with unhealthy eating patterns so students need to make conscious efforts to control what they eat.

In a New York Times Opinion article called “Will Play for Food,” the author proposes a ban on snack foods.  He uses a very sarcastic tone to get his message across. He thinks it’s ridiculous to have sugary, fatty snacks after every sporting event or celebration.  He bashes soccer moms for organizing “communal snack” after his child’s soccer games and finds it appalling that kids need to gorge themselves after every sporting event.  He supports his ideas with a quote from a nutritionist who agrees with his opinion.  The author’s examples are hard to argue with because they’re so true but he doesn’t have much to back up his claim besides his personal experiences.

The author’s light, sarcastic tone makes the article hilarious and fun to read.  I think the author has a very good point about children eating too much junk food, but I don’t think his opinion will change anything.  Moms will continue to bring snack after soccer games because kids love it.  I remember the excitement of finishing a soccer game and running over to the cooler full of Capri Suns and Rice Crispy Treats. I say that if there’s ever a time to reward kids with food it might as well be after some physical exercise.  The author has a good argument but it wasn’t strong enough to convince me.  He never explained why snacks are bad for kids and he didn’t have any statistics about what the junk food does to kids. He simply gives his sarcastic remarks about the ridiculousness of snacking constantly.

In a Washington Post editorial called, “Photographing the Grief of the Amish,” Deborah Howell argues that it wasn’t wrong of the photographers to take pictures of the Amish even though it is against their religion.  The Amish do not like having photographs taken of them because they think photos represent pride.  After five Amish girls were killed in a schoolhouse shooting, photographers had to make tough decisions about taking photographs of the grieving Amish at the cemetery.  Howell explains that the photos The Post took were from roads and sidewalks, and many pictures were taken using a telephoto lens.  Assistant managing editor of photograph, Joe Elbert, says the pictures were taken “with respect and dignity.”  Many people were still upset about the photographs because they felt the Amish should be given more respect, especially during a time of mourning.  The photograph that was most complained about was taken from a helicopter near the gravesite and showed small caskets being carried to the grave.  It bothered people because they think it is disruptive and rude to have a helicopter circling the gravesite during a very serious time. The author feels that the picture was worth publishing.  She says, “It was worth publishing, despite the intrusion, because the photo itself was a lamentation and a eulogy to the dignity, stoic faith and acceptance of the Amish.”

 I agree with the author on this issue.  I think that it was o.k. for the photographers to take these pictures because they were being respectful and keeping their distance.  I understand why some may get upset about being intrusive and disrespecting the Amish religion, but I also think pictures are a very important part of history.  Pictures are very powerful, often more powerful than words.  When I scan the newspaper I usually look at the pictures more than the actual stories.  It would be very hard to overlook this story if there were pictures to show the suffering they were going through.  Pictures are powerful because they capture the moment in a way that writing doesn’t.  When we look back into history the pictures are what catches our attention and brings back memories.

Kathy McCleary uses some effective techniques to teach people about the importance of sleep in an article titled, “Sleepless nights can cause worse problems than grumpiness.” She introduces the subject of sleep deprivation by using a personal quote and makes the article easy to follow by separating different topics with headings. She titles the first paragraph “Do you have sleep disorder” and gives some statistics about sleep how much sleep we really need and what the symptoms of sleep deprivation are. The second paragraph is titled, “The downside of running on empty.” In this paragraph she explains the consequences of sleep deprivation, including weight gain, diabetes, and depression.

I think this article was very effective in convincing people of the importance of sleep. She uses appropriate techniques to help people understand why they need to get enough sleep. She informs the readers of what sleep deprivation is and why it’s important to get a decent amount of sleep. This is a very important topic because many people aren’t getting enough sleep at night. I think this article will persuade people to go to bed earlier. It has defiantly convinced me.

An article called, “Bono, Oprah promote new iPod to fight AIDS,”explains how Oprah Winfrey and Bono are promoting a new line of clothing, accessories, and gadgets to help raise money to support the fight for AIDS in Africa.  These products are titled “Red line” items and they will go on sale soon by stores such as Gap, Apple Computer, Motorola, and Converse.  Gap will donate half of the profits to the cause, and Apple will donate $10 for every new red-colored iPod nano.  The red line products began in Britain last spring and raised more than $12 million for African Aids programs.

I think it is a very clever idea to donate money from products that many people buy toward a good cause.  Many people don’t consider donating money for the Aids cause or don’t know how, but if they are out shopping they can contribute simply by buying an item that they would have bought anyway.  Bono said in a phone interview, “Now you’re buying jeans and T-shirts, and you’re paying for 10 women in Africa to get medication for their children with HIV.” AIDS is a huge problem in Africa and I think it’s great that Bono and Oprah are taking action and encouraging people to support the cause. These products will help raise a lot of money and make people more willing to give their money for the cause.

In a recent CNN article, studies show that kids who sleep through the fire alarm tone awoke to their mother’s voice.  The study involved 24 kids, ages 6 to 12.  23 awoke to the recorded voice of their mother yelling for them to get up, and only 14 awoke to the traditional alarm tone.  It only took the children who woke to their mom’s voice an average of 20 seconds to wake up, and it took about 3 minutes for children to wake to the tone alarm. More studies are being done to figure out why children respond to the voice alarm rather than the tone.  Researchers wonder if the children are responding to their names, their mother’s voice, or the lower frequency of the voice alarm.

I think this topic is very interesting and I’m curious to find out the results. I know from my own experience that alarms don’t always wake sleeping children, or teens for that matter.  Just a couple years ago, one of the doors in our basement blew open during the night and the burglar alarm in our house was set off.  I, along with my brother and sister slept through the whole thing and it is certainly not a quiet alarm. I can’t quite figure out why I’m able to sleep through an alarm but am easily woken by the voices of my family conversing in the kitchen at six o’clock on Saturday morning.  I’m very glad research is being done and I hope they solve the mystery soon so that I’m not stuck in a burning house.

As a surgeon in Denver, Pius Kamau strongly believes in caring for his patients, no matter what their racial views may be. His essay gives his personal story about racism and ideas about the importance of equality. Being able to experience American freedom was his greatest goal growing up in Kenya. He later realized American equality wasn’t quite like he had envisioned.

Kamau tells a very personal story of a young Nazi soldier who spat on him in the hospital because of his skin color. The soldier refused to let Kamau treat him and insisted that only the white nurses check him for injury. At that moment Kamau wanted nothing to do with the boy either. But to this day he wonders what he could have done to make their encounter better.

Kamau’s narrative essay tells his personal encounter with racism in America. He uses this narrative style to help us realize what racism is really like. By telling a true story we can understand the struggle of racism that many people encounter every day. Because he experienced racism first hand, he is able to develop a very sincere claim, that all human being are equal and that it is his duty to care for everyone, even those who would rather die than consider him their equal.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5155332

As baby boomers grow old, twenty percent of the U.S. population is expected to be over age 65 in 2020. Mihai Nadin, a pioneer in the field of computer graphics and a professor at the University of Texas, hopes to keep the boomers active with electronic games.

A 93-year-old resident at an old-age home wears a virtual helmet and touch-sensitive gloves to play tennis against the wall of his bedroom. Nadin is creating more virtual games such as boxing, swimming, and golf for the elderly to play. Nadin believes his new games will keep the baby boomers physically and mentally active.

His research project is focused on designing games and other therapeutic techniques to keep the elderly enticed and physically fit. He believes it is his duty to create these games. He says, “This is not a marketing opportunity but a social responsibility. Games will entice the aging to remain fit and mentally active, to connect with others.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060930/hl_afp/afplifestyleusitgameshealthelderly

The use of artificial trans fats in so much of our food today causes tens of thousands of premature deaths each year.  A recent NYT article, “NYC eyes ban on restaurant trans fat,” explains why health officials of New York have proposed a ban on trans fats in restaurants.  

The author informs the readers of the health consequences of trans fatty acids.  He uses quotes from different doctors to emphasize the health benefits of the ban and the positive impact it would have on the lives of many Americans. He explains that there are many substitute oils that are far less unhealthy that taste similar.   

 The author also uses the compare and contrast method.  He compares the positive effect the ban would have on consumers to the negative effect it would have on cooks.  Some argue that the ban would force cooks to discard many recipes and cause restaurants to have to pay fines from inspectors.  Others say that the health benefits are much more important because reducing the amount of trans fats that Americans consume could save the lives of many.

In a recent MSNBC article, “How to decode Nutrition Labels,” Karen Collins, R.D, offers an easy approach to choosing healthier foods.  Collins studied the habits of shoppers and found that many don’t know what to look for in a healthy diet.  She takes a simple approach to helping these shoppers and suggests looking at serving size, percent daily value, and being aware of how many calories your body really needs. 

The information in this article is stated very simply, using words that everyone can understand.  You don’t need to be a nurse, or have a nutrition obsession to figure out what this article is telling you.  Rather than giving tons of data about how many servings of each food group we need, Collins simply gives a broader view of the subject.  She says, “Aim to fill no more than a third of your plate with meat, poultry or fish, and two-thirds of your plate with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans.”

Collins also uses studies and information that all kinds of people can relate to.  She did surveys of Americans to find out what they consider when they look at food labels, and then she offers ways of improvement.  She found that many people were confused by nutrition information on labels and that they said it required too much math.  Collins offers simple ways to reduce the confusion and tips for better understanding the food labels.