Capstone Project: Detailed Outline

1) Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to figure out why African-Americans and Latinos
have the highest rates of obesity and why they are more prone.
2) Thesis: The socioeconomic gap that currently exists in America mainly contributes to the
increasing rates of obesity and the demographic analysis making some people more prone
to others.
3) Subheading Topic 1: Lack of Access to Affordable, Healthy Food
Source: Obesity, SES, and Economic Development: A Test of the Reversal
Hypothesis (Pampel, Denney, & Krueger, 2012)
Argument/Relevance: Research shows that weight and socioeconomic
status are positively associated in low-income countries, while negatively
associated in high-income countries. The purpose of this article is test the
reversal of this hypothesis and figure out the factors that contribute to the
trend. This article supports my thesis because the research conducted
discusses how health-related, socioeconomic resources, values, etc., differ
with levels of economic development. In addition, also discusses how
even though increasing social and economic aspects can improve health, it
can also contribute to the disparities in obesity.
Source: Food Research and Action Center. (2015).
Argument/Relevance: This article discusses how obesity can be an
independent consequence of low income. As a result, those with lowerincome may have limited access to healthy foods. This research
contributes to my thesis because since healthy food is usually more
expensive, those of lower socioeconomic status tend to consumer cheaper,
unhealthier foods typically found at fast-food restaurants or corner stores.
4) Subheading Topic 2: Barriers (Cultural/Language/Immigration)
Source: (State of Obesity, 2016).
Argument/Relevance: This article discusses some of the cultural, language,
and immigration barriers faced by the Latino culture that contribute to the
disparities within obesity. The argument supports my thesis in which there
is an increased risk of obesity in the Latino community if they do not have
the finances to prepare healthy, full meals. In addition, it also presents the
association between food choice and income, in which many choose
cheaper options in order to stretch budgets that are of poor nutritional
quality. Latino Community
Argument/Relevance: This article discusses some of the cultural barriers
faced by the Black community that contribute to the disparities within
obesity. This article supports my argument in which lower incomes
strongly correlate with increased obesity rates because less nutritious
foods are cheaper and more available. For example, according to the 2013
YRBS, 11% of Black youth did not eat vegetables during the prior week,
compared to 4.5 percent of White youth. On that note, when compared to
other neighborhoods not even considering income, research found that

neighborhoods that are predominantly Black have the most limited access
to healthy supermarkets or farmers markets. Black Community
Source: Grace, D.L (2011).
Argument/Relevance: This article discusses overcoming barriers in
treating African-Americans. Although Grace focuses mainly on the
chronic condition, diabetes, and how African-Americans are the most
prone, he also shows how it the common denominator that contributes to
the disparity is obesity. For example, a survey conducted from 2003 to
2006 showed that African-American women were 70% more likely than
non-Hispanic white women to be obese. This information supports my
thesis because obesity is the most important environmental risk factor
that contributes to insulin resistance.
5) Subheading Topic 3: Lack of Access to Places to be Physically Active
Source: (Obesity in America, 2016).
Argument/Relevance: This article discusses how the Black and Latino
communities lack more access to places to be physically active compared
to Whites. For example, as of 2010, research showed that AfricanAmericans were 70% less likely to be engage in physical
activities/recreational sports than whites. In addition, as of 2011, research
also showed that Hispanics were 30% less likely to engage in physical
activities/recreational sports than Whites. These disparities are mainly a
result of factors such as cost of participation, transportation, language
barriers, etc., thus demonstrating how socioeconomic status affects being
able to be physically active.
1/3 of Latinos live within walking distance of a partcompared to
almost half of Whites
More than 80% of Latino neighborhoods did not have an available
recreational center compared to 38% of Whites 2003/2004
study
Access to pools, recreational centers, and green space is lower in
predominately Black neighborhoods
Safety concerns/crime rates limit outdoor activities/play
Sidewalks in Black communities are 38% more likely to be in poor
condition
Source: (Barrett, Miller, Frumkin, 2014).
Argument/Relevance: This article discusses parks and health, specifically
the importance of aligning incentives to create innovations in chronic
disease prevention. The argument of this article is mainly the idea that
there needs to be more parks or other green spaces to promote physical
activity and an overall healthy well-being. Their research has shown that
outdoor space is associated with maintaining physical activity and
reducing obesity. In addition, this information contributes to my thesis

because more access to parks and green space can help reduce the
disparities in obesity in places with low economic status.
6) Subheading Topic 4: Other Factors Media/Television Access
Source: (Obesity in America, 2016).
Argument/Relevance: This article discusses how Blacks and Hispanics
have higher exposure to media promoting less nutritious foods. Research
shows that every day, African-Americans see twice as many calories
advertised in fast-food commercials compared to Whites.
84 percent of youth-targeted food advertising on Spanishlanguage TV promotes food of low nutritional value
Between 2010 and 2013, fast food restaurants increased their
overall advertising expenditures on Spanish-language TV by 8
percent.
Billboards and other forms of outdoor advertisements, which often
promote foods of low nutritional value, are 13 times denser in
predominantly African American neighborhoods than White
neighborhoods
7) Subheading Topic 6: Prevention/Govt Involvement
Source: (Public Health, 2010).
Argument/Relevance: PublicHealth's health guide discusses the next steps
for decreasing obesity rates across the globe. Government and many local
organizations are working to "reverse" the trend. While it's important for
each individual to do his/her part, it also takes a community effort as well.
Michelle Obama's project concerning childhood obesity has taken four
initiatives including physical education, recess, sports programs, and
healthy meals. This guide is important because it lists specific things
individuals and organizations can do to decrease the epidemic, including
efforts from health insurance companies, doctors, etc.
Children/Physical Education The CDC reported that half of that
half of the nations high school students take no physical education
course
The most common culprit from lack of exercise is budget cuts
Children/Sports Programs: Get rid of pay to play Additional
fees/cost to participate in sports
Healthier meals in schools
Source: (Medicaid): Reducing Obesity: Affordable Care Act
Argument/Relevance: The Affordable Care Act includes several provisions
that promote preventive care including obesity-related and coverage. The
Act also provided funding for the Childhood Obesity Demonstration
Project. The CHIPRA established this grant to help identify effective
health care and community efforts to promote healthy eating and physical
activity mainly targeting children of low-income from the ages 2-12. This

Act illustrates government actions being taken financially in order to

decrease the widespread epidemic of obesity.
Source: (Wang et al., 2006): Obesity Prevention
Argument/Relevance: This article obesity prevention in low
socioeconomic status urban African-American adolescents. Specifically,
even though obesity prevention is a top health priority, there have been a
limited amount of school-based trials. As a result, the article discusses an
overview of study designed to find the importance of school-based obesity
prevention programs in U.S.