Childhood Obesity
Obesity is a national problem, with up to 1 in 3 people diagnosed as obese. There is no single cause, but key factors include lack of physical activity and poor diet, and the prevalence of high-fructose corn syrup—used as a sweetener throughout the industrial food industry—is another known factor.
Even people who eat a balanced diet are ingesting hormones and chemicals that contribute to obesity and many other health problems. [For more information, see 'You Are What You Eat', based on a research paper titled 'The Impacts of Sustainable and Industrial Agriculture on Human Health'.]
New research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Biological Sciences also suggests that environmental contamination, epigenetic influences, and certain infectious agents could play a significant role in the obesity epidemic.
Locally, this is the primary focus for the Kellyn Foundation.
Sustainability & Public Health
Let’s look at sustainability in terms of how our practices affect human health, both immediately and over the long term. Whether we call them health problems or environmental problems, though, the prescription for corrective actions is almost identical. The health lens is … more
The Problem with Industrialized Agriculture
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, industrial agriculture ‘views the farm as a factory with “inputs” (such as pesticides, feed, fertilizer, and fuel) and “outputs” (corn, chickens, and so forth)…’1 Many of the ‘inputs’ used to maximize production are … more
You are what you eat: Impacts of Sustainable and Industrial Agriculture on Human Health
Following is a summary of some of the key findings of a project by a Moravian College student, who looked beyond the various industry and advocacy positions to see what is really known about the health impacts of the ways … more