Researchers untangling link between hunger and obesity

Reposted from MPR News

The picture of hunger in America is changing. In the past, hunger may have conjured up images of gaunt faces or rail-thin children. Today, some people who struggle to feed their families are actually obese.

It’s a paradox that researchers are trying to untangle: How can people be both hungry and overweight? Gwendolyn Smith worries about a lot of things — including food. Sometimes, she doesn’t have money to buy enough for the month.

“Basically like two weeks, at the end of the month, we usually run out,” Smith said. She’s a single mom, and her kids mean everything to her. In the past, when food has been short, she has skipped meals. “If I didn’t have enough, then I would make sure that my kids ate,” Smith said. “And I would just get me a cup of water.” On a recent night, she pulls pork chops out of the oven. It is still early enough in the month that she has meat. “Peanut, can you get me a skillet?” she asks one of her children. READ MORE

Disability as a Disparity

Reposted from Courage Center

The definition of disability varies often based on the purpose of the data obtained and the mechanism used for data collection. For example, the National Center for Health Statistics uses the National Health Interview Survey, an extensive face-to-face survey of 32 questions used to determine a person’s disability. In contrast, in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, disability is determined by answering yes to one of two questions related to limitations in any activity related to physical, mental, or emotional problems, or use of assistive equipment like a cane or special bed. Healthy People 2020 is attempting to tackle this definitional inconsistency by including a standard set of disability questions in all data systems used. READ MORE