Economic Reasoning Solving the Mystery: Why Are We a Nation of Couch Potatoes?

QOD #4: The Mystery 1) Why do an increasing number of Americans who admire the trim, slender look so often featured in the media, exercise too little and eat too much? 2) Are we really a nation of couch potatoes? 3) Where is the evidence to support this assertion?

Definitions: Definitions: Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of an adult’s weight in relation to his or her height, specifically the adult’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters. Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of an adult’s weight in relation to his or her height, specifically the adult’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults Between 1985 and 2010 Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults Between 1985 and 2010

Source of the data: The data shown in these maps were collected through CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Each year, state health departments use standard procedures to collect data through a series of telephone interviews with U.S. adults. Height and weight data are self- reported. Prevalence estimates generated for the maps may vary slightly from those generated for the states by BRFSS ( as slightly different analytic methods are used. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults Between 1985 and 2010 Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults Between 1985 and 2010

In 1990, among states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 10 states had a prevalence of obesity less than 10% and no state had prevalence equal to or greater than 15%. By 2000, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 10%, 23 states had a prevalence between 20 – 24%, and no state had prevalence equal to or greater than 25%. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence equal to or greater than 30%.

Citations Mokdad AH, et al. The spread of the obesity epidemic in the United States, 1991–1998. JAMA 1999;282:16:1519– 22. Mokdad AH, et al. The continuing epidemics of obesity and diabetes in the United States. JAMA 2001;286:10:1519– 22. Mokdad AH, et al. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, JAMA 2003;289:1:76–9. CDC. State-specific prevalence of obesity among adults — United States, MMWR 2006;55(36):985–8. CDC. State-specific prevalence of obesity among adults — United States, MMWR 2008;57(28):765–8. CDC. Vital signs: State-specific prevalence of obesity among adults — United States, MMWR 2010;59:1–5.

2000 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1990, 2000, 2010 (*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1985 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1986 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1987 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1988 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1989 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1990 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1991 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1992 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1993 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1994 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1995 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1996 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1997 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1998 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1999 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2000 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2001 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2002 No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2003 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2004 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2005 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2006 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2007 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2008 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2009 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2010 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Following this trend what will we look like by the time you are old?

Show a clip of Wall-e from 39 minutes and 30 seconds to 42 minutes and 30 seconds (3 minutes) It shows people who are completely reliant on computers and technology for everything

A theory is an explanation of how something works, designed to answer a question for which there is no obvious answer. Create a theory which explains why America is a nation of couch potatoes?

Solving the Mystery : Your ultimate task is to create an economic theory, using economic reasoning, explaining why our nation is getting fatter every year. You will be given: an envelope with clues about the topic. a table to record details as well as inferences about those details. ◦Not every clue will have information for every category of economic reasoning on the table.

Move into pairs and begin working on the clues.

In your “economic think tanks,” write a theory explaining America’s weight gain. In your “economic think tanks,” write a theory explaining America’s weight gain. After writing your theory add at least four pieces of evidence using economic reasoning.

HOMEWORK: 1) Study for Chapter 1 Quiz (pg 34 RQ #1-12) 2) POTUS Briefing Word of your think tank’s theory has reached Washington D.C. President Obama wants you to advise him on the obesity crisis facing America. Prepare a briefing for the POTUS showing the crisis from the perspective of an economist. Have four plausible suggestions to address the problem.