Obesity Epidemic

One of the greatest epidemics in the world, obesity, has risen 75% in the past ten years. It is spread across the world and hit every town and city. The cause of this horrible disease is due to poor nutrition and lack of being active.

Obesity is prevalent in every type of person, specifically looking at children, child obesity has doubled in the last 20 years and tripled for teenagers (1). Obesity is diagnosed when the child’s BMI (body mass index) is in the the 95th percentile, which then puts them at risk for cardiovascular disease (1).

In Maine, obesity has risen 100% in 17 years, affecting children, teenagers, and adults (1). Children as young as kindergarten are experiencing being overweight and being obese. The Maine Child Health Survey announced that 18% of kindergarten students have a BMI in the 85-94% range, and 15% have a BMI greater than 95% (1).

With child obesity leading to so many diseases, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, what is Maine doing about child obesity? Well, in the summer of 2009, governor John Baldacci met with Maine legislators and healthcare advocates to celebrate the passage of three bills aimed to control child obesity (2). One bill was oriented to measure the heights and weights of school children and send the measurements to the Maine Center for Disease Control (2). Baldacci also signed two bills aimed to find the cause of obesity, diets, and exercise (2). This included that chain restaurants must post more calorie information on their menus and increase physical activity in Maine schools (2).

Directing the attention to one Maine town, Brewer Maine, they have acknowledged the issue of child obesity and are in action to fight it. The schools in Brewer, Maine are all using a system called NuriKids. NuriKids is a computer application that the schools download into the computers in the lunch rooms. The children have a code and punch it before they purchase their meals, which allows their parents to access what they are consuming online (3). NutriKids also has nutrition education on its website and an interactive menu, where parents can plan out what their children will eat (3). The nutrition labels are also present within the interactive menu section(3).

Another health improvement that Brewer schools have implied is taking out the junk food in their vending machines. An article from the Maine Dietetic Association stated, “By establishing an environment that supports nutritious food choices, schools play a critical role in producing healthy students who are better able to develop and learn (4).” The Maine Dietetic Association described how schools in Maine are starting to transfer over the junk food from the vending machines and a’la carte in the lunch rooms, to more nutritious snack options (4).

In the long run, these contributions to the school systems of Brewer will help fight against child obesity. More schools throughout Maine are also taking similar actions. Hopefully, the state will see a decline in child obesity very soon.

Jessica Currier

References:

1) Mills, Dora. Maine CDC. “Obesity in Maine” 2007. http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/oim/Obesity%20in%20Maine%20(5-07)%20FINAL.pdf.

2) Maine.Gov. “Governor signs three anti-obesity bills.” June 17, 2009. http://www.maine.gov/legis/speaker/news/PingreeNews/ObestiyMeasuresSigned2009-06-17.htm.

3) NutriKids. “What is MyNutriKids.com?” 2006-2009. https://www.mynutrikids.com/LearnMore/LearnMore.aspx#mytray.

4) Maine Dietetic Association. ADA Foundation. “Building Healthy Schools.” 2006. http://www.eatrightmaine.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/winter06.pdf.

UMaine's School of Performing Arts Presents Hair-The American Tribal Love Rock Musical

For release on Wednesday 17:

This up-and-coming weekend, February 19, 20, and 21, the University of Maine's School of Performing Arts is presenting the Broadway play, Hair-The American Tribal Love Rock Musical, directed by Marcia Douglas. The play was debuted last weekend and will show next weekend, as well.

Hair is presented on campus in Hauck Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are on sale for 12 dollars for the general public, and students get in free with their Mainecards.

Hair-The American Tribal Love Rock Musical is a Broadway play, and is written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. The play ages in the year 1960s and shows the hardship and battles that the American hippies experienced, in fight for their beliefs of "make love not war."

The students of UMaine portray their talents of dancing, acting, and singing to spread the message of the 1960 American hippies. At this moment in time, with war developing throughout the world, everyone can be reminded of this simple concept of love not war.

With questions or regards on the presentation of Hair- The American Tribal Love Rock Musical, contact the School of Performing Arts at 207-581-4703.

Jessica Currier

Working to Keep Students and Community Members Fit and Healthy

With sweat dripping down your face, your heart pounding through your chest, and every muscle in your body is aching, all you would want to do is fall to the floor. Now, many people will be thinking to themselves "Wow that sounds just like me!" Almost everyone has gone to the gym or has done some kind of workout, where all they want to do is give up. To give up is to fail, and failure is never attained when you have your own personal trainer.

Travis Bouchard, a junior at the University of Maine, majoring in Kinesioliogy and Physical Education, has been a personal training at the University's Rec Center, since last February.

Bouchard became a personal trainer as a student at the University of Maine by enrolling in the ACE course (American Council of Exercise), which was two hours a week for a whole semester. This was taken at the Rec Center. Once Bouchard finished the ACE course, he explained that he was hired based on his knowledge within the field of fitness, and than shadowed other trainers of the University's Rec Center, until he was ready to work on his own.

When asked why he wanted to become a personal trainer, Bouchard replied, "“Through years of participating in athletics, I became fond of training myself as well as others. I decided to turn this hobby into a career.”

Most personal trainers would have to be certified before being hired by a gym. Bouchard said that he was able to be hired because since he is a student enrolled in the exercise science program at the University of Maine, he was able to go through an apprenticeship with the Rec Center. Although, if Bouchard wanted to work at a different gym, he would have to be certified.

The overall process of training someone at the University's Rec Center starts with a fitness assessment, which tests both muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. Next, Bouchard said that he sits down with his clients to develop attainable goals. He will then tailor the workout to achieve the client's specific goals and by concentrating on their safety.

For the actual work out, Bouchard quotes, “ As a trainer I am constantly seeking out the newest and most up to date scientific information in the field of fitness. I implement “functional training” where I design exercises to mimic daily activities. I train the body in its three natural planes to insure a full body workout.”

Bouchard will put his clients through challenging workouts weekly, and then once a month re-assess their workout to see how far they have come. Bouchard said excitedly, "Seeing the progress a client can make is my favorite part about the job!"

To be able to see a person achieve their goals is one great aspect of the job, but Bouchard also explained that he has learned valuable life lessons from working as a personal trainer, and it has made him grow as a person and student.

Bouchard strives to help the students and community members of the University of Maine maintain a healthy lifestyle through fitness but also through their diets. Bouchard ended with stating, “A common misconception to people's individual health, is that a workout regime is its foundation. Although, it is very important, balanced nutrition plays a much larger role."

Surely, if you ever are looking for a way to tone up and live a healthy lifestyle, personal trainer Travis Bouchard would be able to help you achieve these goals through hard work, commitment, and diet.

Jessica Currier

Newscast

Everyone knows that the Super Bowl is this Sunday, so to get into the mood and give some cooking tips for the celebration, WLBZ2 had Adam Richman, from the T.V show "Man vs. Food" be interviewed by reporter Rob Caldwell.

To critique Caldwell's skills, he didn't introduce Richman or tell the audience why he was there to speak. The only time that Richman was introduced was before Caldwell came onto the screen to interview Richman, and this was done by another anchor. I think that since Caldwell was interviewing Richman, he should have told who he was incase people missed it before.

A few other details that I picked up on that Caldwell could have done differently was to not say "Uhm" so much. It appeared that he didn't know what to say next at some points. Lastly, Caldwell cut off Richman a few times while he was still speaking. This gave the impression that he was rushing and wanted the interview to be over.

I would have done all of these mannerism that I have mentioned differently, but I also would have asked different questions. Caldwell asked questions of Richman's past like, "How did you get into the gig that you are in right now, and What is your favorite meal? (1)" I would have asked, "How can you make a Super Bowl Sunday meal that is different than the casual sub sandwich and hot wings? and What sort of healthy options are there to make?"

The conversation was very casual, which I think was a good approach. They were discussing something simple and informal, such as food for a football game. People wouldn't want formal language discussing food oriented for a football game. For example, one of the popular dishes for Super Bowl Sunday is chicken wings. Now, talking about chicken wings with formal language does not flow well. Richman tells his ideas of how chicken wings can be served in numerous ways in an "everyday sort of feel" tone (1). Caldwell's questions worked with Richman's language too by being casual.

I also enjoyed how Caldwell incorporated traditional Maine food in his questions to Richman, like "How does Maine lobster rate on your food scale? (1)" I think that this gave the whole newscast a larger meaning than just cooking for Super Bowl Sunday. Many Mainer's were able to relate to what Caldwell and Richman were talking about, even if they don't watch or cook for the Super Bowl.

The whole conversation was spoken in the present and future tense. This of course was because the Super Bowl isn't until this Sunday, and seemed to fit for the conversation.

Overall, I thought that Caldwell and Richman were lively and good humored, which gave the whole newscast a good appeal. Yes, different questions could have been included in my opinion, but that is because I have different interests in Super Bowl food than some people. I care more about the nutritional side. I'm sure any guy though would go crazy if their wife cooked a healthy meal for the big game!

Reference:

1) Caldwell, Rob. (Interviewer) & Richman, Adam. (Interviewee). (2010). Man vs. Food. [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from WLBZ2 Online site: http://www.wlbz2.com/video/default.aspx#/Cooking/%22Man+v.+Food%27s%22+Adam+Richman/49764939001/49746547001/64389204001