REFLECTIVE LETTER, REPORT, POSITION/PROPOSAL & FACTSHEET
Loal T. Lee, English 2010 Online, Final Portfolio
8/2/2011
Loal T. Lee, English 2010 Online
Reflective Letter
I found that the course was very useful and informative. I was able to learn that
there are many more genres or writing styles than I had originally thought. I learned in this
course to adapt and form different arguments, write different styles and designs, and how to
develop my writing based on the individual situation. In the process I have learned how to work
more effectively, develop my topic, research with more tools, manage my time more effectively,
Cite my sources appropriately, how to provided proper feedback as well as what is and is not
effective feedback, and I learned that communication is key in getting a group writing
assignment taken care of. Overall this course has taught me to become a stronger more
efficient writer and to keep an open mind when looking at different writing genres.
Before I started this course I thought I knew all the different writing genres but I found
that I had a very close minded approach about genres. Now I know that there are many different
types and styles of genre. Also before this course I also found myself researching more than I
actually needed to because I didn’t use all of the tools I had effectively. With the help of this
course and some of the Podcasts we were assigned to listen to I was able to collect more
scholarly data in 5 minutes than I would have found in 2 to 3 hours before. I also found that
taking the time to use my classmates and group members advice I was able to edit and manage
each assignment so that it was put together and well written. By using others I learned that
having more eyes on a document helps you to develop a well written and intelligent sounding
piece of work. Where before I would have avoided others because I am stubborn and think I can
do it all on my own.
I found that picking the topic for the course was rather difficult because the
communication within my group wasn’t very good and I didn’t have the time to check up online
every day. So I was kind of pushed into the topic of obesity. Now don’t get me wrong it was
definitely a good topic to have because of all the material out there but I found that there was
almost too much information available which made it difficult to choose which topic would work
the best. I chose the topic of genetics and obesity for my report because I thought I had an
interest in biology and genetics. After further research I found that it was not my cup of tea but I
learned a very valuable lesson which helped me determine what I want to major in.
Finally I chose the work for my final portfolio based on how much I learned, how much I
had to adapt, and how difficult the topic was for me. I chose to turn in my report because there
was a lot of research and a large amount of time put into it. I chose the proposition proposal
because it flowed very well with the report and I chose the fact sheet because in tied into both
the other papers rather seamlessly. I didn’t choose to turn in the profile because it was almost to
easy and it didn’t flow very well with the other assignments.
In closing I found the course to be an overall success. I will be able to take all of the
things I learned and put them to use in the future. Example I found that when you are
communicating online you need to be very clear and straight forward because it is the only way
to get the information across the right way versus in person communication where you can be
more vague or general about the topic. I also learned that it is very important to give yourself
plenty of time when doing a report so that the product is fine tuned and developed appropriately.
The last thing I wanted to bring up that I learned is that group work is much easier in person
because you can receive feedback verbally as well as visually and descriptions and questions
can be answered immediately rather than in a few days.
Loal T. Lee, English 2010 Online – Report
Obesity, Genetics or Not
Abstract
The aim of this report is to provide the reader with a basic idea of how a person’s
genetic make-up related to obesity. In the report you will find information from studies
and articles that relate to genetics and obesity. The articles and studies used were
analyzed and broken down to the basic idea so that the information is easy to
understand and follow.
Obesity is something that has been on the rise for many years now. It is just one
of those things that is becoming more and more common, especially here in the United
States. The genetics of obesity are being looked at in this report because genetics are
the blue print of each person and they show us how a person is made. The genetic
make-up of a person, specifically an obese person can give us a better look at obesity
and more insight as to why obesity is on the rise.
Introduction
Obesity is the term used to describe excess amounts of body fat or adipose
tissue on a living thing. While obesity can be used in explaining an overweight animal it
is most often used to describe an overweight human being. While there are many
factors that play important roles in obesity, such as environmental factors, diet,
exercise, etc., I will be focusing on the role genetics plays in obesity. It wasn’t until
recently that scientists started researching genetic links to obesity because it was
becoming more and more common. So common in fact that it has been labeled as a
disease. In their research scientists have found that a person’s genetics can play a
crucial role in whether or not a person develops obesity and in some cases a person’s
genetic makeup was considered a primary risk factor.
So the question then becomes what role does genetics play in obesity? The
answer to that question lies in all the research and studies that have gone into the role
that genetics plays in obesity. It was hypothesized that genetics is one of the major
contributors to obesity. This being because the genetics are passed down from
generation to generation.
Methods
While researching genetics and obesity I thought it would be useful to pick the
first seven or eight articles I found online to get a better understanding of what a person
would find while searching for genetics and obesity. So I searched and looked through
many articles and studies online trying to find information that was relevant to what I
wanted to report on. In the search for information I was able to find a few articles which
mentioned case studies researchers had developed. Those articles I found to be very
useful and informative. Those were also the articles that I chose to use for this report. In
my research I also found a lot of articles that were taken from books that were on
genetics and obesity. At a quick glance those books included additional studies,
research, and detailed findings of different genes and DNA sequences which were tied
to obesity. I opted not to use the books because I wanted the report to be more of an
overview that anyone could read and understand.
Results
I was able to find that while there are obesity syndromes caused by mutations in
a single gene (very rare), the majority of obesity cases came from genetic variations
that were inherited. So the genetic traits of obesity are most often passed down through
your family and can be found in many generations. I also found that there is not just one
single gene that causes obesity but multiple genes and DNA sequences which give a
person a higher risk of becoming obese.
The first study I looked at was the article “Genetics of Obesity in Humans”, which
was a very detailed study on obesity and common factors that were found in a person’s
genetic make-up which could lead to obesity. The study covered genetic mutations,
common deficiencies, variations in genes and sequences, how the genes affect the
individual and it even broke down into specific genes that could be tied into the genetics
of obesity.
I was also able to look at another article, “Genetics of Obesity and the Prediction
of Risk for Health”, which was very similar to the first article in that it was very detailed
and full of information. The main difference between the two was that the second article
covered more of the risks such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even cancer.
But overall it was the same information just worded differently.
Another article I viewed, which was labeled “Obesity”, was just a basic overview
on obesity. In the article it mentioned that obesity tends to run through family bloodlines
and then suggested that there may be a genetic factor involved but it never went into
any specific details. In the same article in went through the process of how obesity is
measured, the environmental factors involved, different health and psychological
factors, and how obesity can be treated in many ways through a wide variety of options.
One article that I reviewed, “Genetics of obesity”, mentioned a study done with
twins. In that study they found that when overfed monozygotic or identical twins showed
small differences in where the excess calories were stored but overall the results were
the similar which indicated that there are genetic factors associated with obesity. The
article also mentioned that there are three components additional components
associated with obesity. They are food intake, amount of energy used, and
adipogenesis. With that it also noted that there are still a lot of unknown factors
associated with fuel and energy balance.
Two of the articles that I reviewed, “Genetics of Obesity” and “Genetics of
Obesity: Recent Results from Linkage Studies”, took a slightly different approach to
linking genetics and obesity. Both articles mentioned studies of other mammals such as
rats which showed that the genetics were a cause to the growth of obesity. The studies
indicated that all mammals experience obesity and they went on to explain that genetic
deformities are rare but they do play a role in the growing rates of obesity.
The last article I viewed was, “Scientists Narrow in on Genetic Cause of Obesity”,
which I was able to find on abcnews.com. In the article it covered briefly a study where
researchers had collected DNA samples from 9,881 different people over a 24 year time
frame. In that study the researchers were able to estimate that ten percent of the people
have misspelled DNA which increased their risk of becoming obese anywhere from 30
to 50 percent.
Discussion
So what role does genetics play in obesity? In the article “Obesity” and also in
the article “Genetics of Obesity and the Prediction of Risk for Health” we found that
there are multiple links between genetics and obesity. In fact these articles were able to
identify specific mutations, common deficiencies, variations in genes and sequences,
and even how the different genes affect each individual. All these factors would point to
the fact that genetics is a major contributor to obesity.
“Genetics of obesity” was also able to break down the genetics behind obesity by
using twins in a study to find factors for obesity. Not only were they able to locate
factors but they were also able to show similarities within a families genetic make-up
which of course is passed through the generations. This ultimately proved that Genetics
are a major contributor to obesity.
The articles “Genetics of Obesity” and “Genetics of Obesity: Recent Results from
Linkage Studies” also proved that genetics are a major contributor to obesity by
showing us that these types of genetic traits are not only found in humans but also
found in other mammals such as rats. They even explained that there are specific
deformities which cause obesity that add to the problem even though they are rare.
Of course the last article we covered proved the same point by showing us that
our DNA plays an important part in whether or not we become obese. It provided us
with the documentation or 9,881 records that spanned over 24 years that showed
specific misspelled DNA sequences which all led to the fact that genetics plays a major
part in obesity.
Conclusion
So what do all the articles show us? They show us that there are many factors to
be considered when trying to track down the cause of obesity. They show us that
obesity is found in all mammals. And they show us that genetics play an important role
in obesity.
So restate our original question, what role does genetics play in obesity? Well we
have found that genetics are the blue print to a person’s make up. That specific makeup helps determine if a person can become obese. Through a person’s genetics we can
find deformities in genes which cause obesity, millions of different DNA sequences
which put a person at risk of developing obesity, deficiencies which also increase a
person’s risk of becoming obese, and many other possibilities all of which make a
person more prone to becoming obese. So while genetics are not the only thing causing
the problem, it is definitely contribution to the problem. Because of how much genetics
contributes to the problem we can safely state that genetics is one of the major
contributors to obesity.
Bibliography
Bircan, Iffet. 21 November 2008. JCRPE. 22 June 2011 <www.jcrpe.org>.
Bouchard, Claude. 01 September 1997. 22 June 2011
<http://jn.nutrition.org/content/127/9/1887S.full>.
Caudle, Jennifer. abcnews.go.com. 13 April 2006. 22 June 2011
<http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=1839156&page=1>.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. www.medicalmoment.org. 01 January 2005. 22 June 2011
<http://www.medicalmoment.org/_content/risks/jan05/286751.asp>.
Farooqi, Sadaf and O'Rahilly, Stephen. Endocrine Reviews. 22 November 2006. Endocrine Reviews. 22
June 2011 <http://edrv.endojournals.org/content/27/7/710.full>.
Martinez-Hernandez, Alfredo, Luis Enriquez and Maria Jesus: and Marti, Amelia Moreno-Moreno.
journals.cambridge.org. April 2007. Cambridge. 22 June 2011
<http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1344600>.
TJ Clark & Company. www.tjclarkinc.com. 22 June 2011
<http://www.tjclarkinc.com/d_genetic_obesity.htm>.
Walley, Andrew J., Alexandrea I.F. Blakemore and Philippe and Froguel. 2006. Oxford Journals. 22 June
2011 <http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/suppl_2/R124.full>.
Loal T. Lee, English 2010 Online – Position/Proposal
Genetic or the Person, Who is to Blame for Obesity?
In the fight against obesity people are trying to find some where to place the
blame. Is it the person’s genetics? Is it the actual person’s fault for being lazy? Or
maybe it is a combination of the two? With so many different questions one finds it hard
to make a logical decision based solely on the facts. So how do you decide who or what
is to blame or restated as who or what is responsible for obesity and what can we do to
try to fix the problem?
When looking at a person’s genetic make-up to determine if their obesity is
genetic there are a variety of factors to consider. To start does obesity run in the family
history? If so then one could assume that it is more than likely a genetic trait which was
picked up. If not then you must ask if they have a genetic mutation or abnormality which
could cause them to be obese. If there are no genetic abnormalities or mutations why
are they obese? Which leads us to the next question, is the person to blame for their
obesity?
Maybe the problem lies with the actual person. How does this person eat? Do
they go out to eat all the time? Do they eat proper portions? Do they exercise regularly
or just when they feel like it? As you can see the questions can build up rather quickly.
But these types of questions are the questions that must be asked when trying to
determine if the person is at fault for their obesity because if the person eats out all the
time, doesn’t eat the appropriate portions, and doesn’t try to exercise regularly they are
truly at fault for their obesity. But on the reverse end of the scenario if that person
doesn’t eat out all the time, does eat proper portions, and exercises on a regular basis
then maybe they have a genetic mutation or abnormality which would put their genetics
at fault. When that person is hit and miss with their diet and exercise plan you could
assume at that point it is a combination of genetics working against them and the
somewhat lackadaisical attitude the person has.
Is the person’s obesity a combination of genetics and the person? Most often
studies show that obesity is a combination of the person, which would include their
environment, and their genetics. While genetics play a role in whether or not the person
is susceptible to becoming obese. The choices that person makes in their own diet and
exercise plan will ultimately determine whether or not the person becomes obese.
Unlike genetic diseases, obesity can be fought through a proper diet, a regular exercise
plan and a variety of other alternatives. By exercising regularly and maintaining a proper
diet a person with the genetic traits of obesity can actually fight off the obesity and in
most cases live a happy normal life. There are also other benefits to a proper diet and
exercise plan such as a stronger immune system, less chance of heart attack or stroke,
stronger lungs, and many other health benefits.
So with that in mind who is at fault or what is to blame for the obesity problem?
The answer lies in the research done in trying to fight obesity. Studies have shown that
while there are genetic abnormalities and mutations which cause a person to be obese.
These abnormalities and mutations are very rare and are not the main cause of obesity.
One would assume that if the genetics of a person are not to blame and the person is
not to blame that the majority of obesity cases are a combination of having the genetic
make-up for obesity and making poor choices when it comes to diet and exercise plans.
So who or what to blame for obesity? Ultimately the person is responsible for their
obesity.
So what can we do to fight obesity or how do we fix the problem? The answer is
quite simple when all the pieces of the puzzle are put together. The way we fight obesity
and fix the problem it is becoming is by educating people on the importance of a proper
diet. With a proper diet a person can learn proper portion control, how to eat the right
foods such as fruits and vegetables, and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With a
proper exercise plan a person can reduce the risk of heart problems, increase lung
function, and maintain a steady, healthy weight.
The old saying goes out of sight, out of mind, right? If that is truly the case we
must create awareness about obesity and ensure that people are educated now so that
the problem doesn’t persist and become bigger than it all ready is. By educating people
now we are helping the future generations and hopefully they will see a decrease in
obesity rather than the increase we have been experiencing in recent years.
Bibliography
Bircan, Iffet. 21 November 2008. JCRPE. 22 June 2011 <www.jcrpe.org>.
Bouchard, Claude. 01 September 1997. 22 June 2011
<http://jn.nutrition.org/content/127/9/1887S.full>.
Caudle, Jennifer. abcnews.go.com. 13 April 2006. 22 June 2011
<http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=1839156&page=1>.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. www.medicalmoment.org. 01 January 2005. 22 June 2011
<http://www.medicalmoment.org/_content/risks/jan05/286751.asp>.
Farooqi, Sadaf and O'Rahilly, Stephen. Endocrine Reviews. 22 November 2006. Endocrine Reviews. 22
June 2011 <http://edrv.endojournals.org/content/27/7/710.full>.
Martinez-Hernandez, Alfredo, Luis Enriquez and Maria Jesus: and Marti, Amelia Moreno-Moreno.
journals.cambridge.org. April 2007. Cambridge. 22 June 2011
<http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1344600>.
TJ Clark & Company. www.tjclarkinc.com. 22 June 2011
<http://www.tjclarkinc.com/d_genetic_obesity.htm>.
Walley, Andrew J., Alexandrea I.F. Blakemore and Philippe and Froguel. 2006. Oxford Journals. 22 June
2011 <http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/suppl_2/R124.full>.
Loal T. Lee
English 2010 Online
Factsheet
Obesity, What You Need to Know
Obesity is one of the largest problems for the population in the United States,
which is rising at alarming rates. More than two-thirds of states (38/50) have adult
obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent.
We need to take action immediately. We need to start educating the people and the
children about proper portion sizes, fitness, nutrition (proper diet), and about the health
risks associated with becoming obese. We also need to make them more aware of the
advantages of living a healthy life style and the effects that life style will have on them
short term and long term.
To start as mentioned above we must educate both young and old to make it
more aware that obesity is a problem that can be controlled. We must educated the
people and children to ensure that they know and understand that genetics can play a
role in obesity but that the genetics are not the only determining factor. We must make
sure they understand that there are genetic deformities and mutations which can cause
obesity and make sure that they understand that those deformities and mutations are
rare. In fact the majority of obesity cases are linked to poor lifestyle choices such as a
poor diet and lack of exercise.
Along with educating the people and children about the overall reasons for
obesity we must educated them about the health conditions or problems that come
along with obesity. By educating about the conditions and problems associated with
obesity we can make people more aware of the risks associated with the development
of obesity. Here are some of the health conditions or problems associated with obesity
that we need to educate people about:

Sleep disorders (i.e. sleep apnea, Insomnia, etc)

Type 2 diabetes

Stroke

High Blood Pressure

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

High Cholesterol

Heart Attack
All of the conditions or problems listed above not only affect your health and well
being but they also affect your overall day to day life. Example if you have a sleep
disorder such as sleep apnea, a temporary pause or stop in breathing during sleep, you
are not getting a full nights rest because you wake up multiple times, wake up due to
lack of oxygen, and toss and turn. With sleep apnea when you get up in the morning
you will not feel rested or rejuvenated because you did not receive a full nights rest.
When you don’t get a full nights rest you tend to feel more tired and/or lazy which leads
to not being as productive as you could have be.
Another Example if you develop type 2 diabetes (most common form of diabetes)
from obesity your body is either ignoring the insulin in your body or not producing
enough insulin. In either case insulin is necessary for the body to use glucose (sugar)
for energy. With type 2 diabetes one has to check the glucose levels in the blood
regularly usually by pricking your finger to draw some blood and then using a meter to
read the glucose levels in the blood that was drawn. This can at time become
uncomfortable and painful.
Now while we need educate the people and children of the negative effects of
obesity, we also need to be educating them about the positive effects of choosing to live
a healthy life style. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle your risk of developing the
conditions listed above reduces drastically and you are able to maintain a healthy well
being. One of the major aspects of a healthy life style is a proper diet. A proper diet
consists of:

2000 calorie diet

Portion control

Eat fruits, grains, vegetables, proteins, and dairy daily

Lean meat or cuts of meat (i.e. chicken, fish, lean beef, etc)

Cut back on sweets
By following a healthy diet you are able to maintain a healthy weight and in doing so
reducing your risk of becoming obese. The most important of the points listed under a
healthy diet is a 2000 calorie diet. By having a 2000 calorie diet your making sure your
body has enough calories to function throughout the day. One thing we need to educate
people about is that a 2000 calorie diet is for the average person and can vary
depending on your activity level. Example a professional body builder needs anywhere
from 3000-5000 calories a day to ensure there body has enough fuel to function
properly. If they were to try to maintain a 2000 calorie diet their bodies would slowly
start to shut down.
The last thing we need to educate people about in maintaining a healthy lifestyle
is physical activity. Physical activity is something that we need to do at least 3 to 5 days
a week for 30 to 60 minutes each day. With physical activity we need to ensure people
are aware that we need to mix it up and do a wide variety of exercises so that we don’t
get bored and so our body doesn’t get used to the exercises. Some good exercises you
can do for physical activity include:

Hiking

Bicycling

Swimming

Running

Weight training/lifting
By following an exercise plan we are promoting good health. So of the positive
effects of regular exercise include:

Good mental health

Stronger immune system

Good muscle health

Stronger cardio vascular system

Helps prevent chronic diseases (high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.)
Not only does it promote good health it also helps people develop good healthy sleep
patterns. It also helps limit the negative health problems and conditions. If we educate
people to live a healthier life by following a proper diet and exercise plan we can
become a healthier people, live longer, and experience more things in this life.