unit 2 Assignment 2 - Research diary,treatment

My documentary topic - unhealthy eating/lifestyles in Tameside and the effects.

Research Diary

Website 1 - Cardiovascular Disease (published December 2011)
 - www.tameside.gov.uk/scrutiny/personal/cvd/summary.pdf‎

Quote -

'Partner organisations have acknowledged that CVD levels are too high in Tameside and measures are being taken to bring the level down, particularly among under-75's. There is a clear strategic vision and action plan to tackle risk factors associated with CVD, such as tobacco misuse,alcohol misuse, low levels of physical activity and obesity

The quote explains how the levels of cardiovascular disease related issues are too high within Tameside among people under 75. As a result there is a plan to address the risk factors related with the disease and poor health in general. Therefore attempting to tackle the main factors and make an impacting change.

Bullet point's of key information

• Tameside has a high rate of mortality from cardiovascular related causes
• High blood pressure, smoking and alcohol consumption are more noticeable in Tameside than the country as a whole
• Tameside and Glossop aims to reduce the mortality rate for under-75's from cardiovascular disease by 28% 
• The main factors contributing to cardiovascular disease are tobacco use, alcohol use, low levels of physical activity and obesity.  

I found this information relevant and easy to understand. The opening information explained the existence of high mortality rates in Tameside due to cardiovascular disease. The website also had a number of useful conclusions which helped my research. I also think the information is not bias, as it is provided by a validated source and provides factual information. Not an opinion.

Website 2 - Greater Manchester News (published February 2012)
-  http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/threat-to-ban-takeaways-near-tameside-681110

Quote -

'The principal wrote to the council saying students were buying too much food from a burger van parked outside the college gates. She said "in a world where there is a growing concern about adolescent obesity and related health problems we believe we have a duty to try to both serve healthy food within college and to teach young people about the benefits of eating healthily'' '

The quote is a complaint from our college principal to the council explaining how students are more frequently choosing to eat from an unhealthy burger van close to the college gates instead of eating healthy food from the college. Becoming a factor to why there is a growing obesity epidemic in the Tameside area and one of the main options for college students is unhealthy take-aways in the area.

Bullet point's of key information

• The council believes there has to be a further barrier to more takeaways coming into Tameside
• Kieran Quinn says promoting healthy eating has failed to halt the obesity epidemic
• Teachers are complaining students are eating far too much junk food
• Students have to resist to eat junk food, and eat the healthy food served at college

This information is relevant as it is based in Tameside and highlights how many take-aways are based in the local area and the amount of students eating at these places is increasing. The information was easy to understand and provided good information to further out research towards my documentary. Although i think the information may be slightly bias towards the college and not taking into consideration the other healthy options around the area and towards students who do not eat at the take-aways.

Newspaper 1 - Daily Mail article (published October 2010)
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315302/UK-restaurants-asked-print-calories-menus-combat-unhealthy-eating.html

Quote -

'As a nation we are too unhealthy. We cost the NHS billions of pounds a year through bad diets,lack of exercise and poor lifestyle choices. We can and must improve this. Today, the agency will release details of 33 companies which decreased their portion sizes and changed the ingredients in some of their products'

This quote explains how the NHS spends billions of pounds a year in operations and treatment for people with bad health or unhealthy eating related issues. In result, the government have forced so far 33 food companies to reduce the size of their portions and change their ingredients to atleast attempt to become 'more healthy'. The companies have also been forced to provide calorie information for all of their food products.

Bullet point's of key information

• Burger king and Pizza Hut have introduced calorie labelling
• The government have introduced plans 
• Companies have had to reduce the salt in their foods by 5% to meet FSA guidelines
• Restaurants need to print calorie information on menu's to inform customers 

This information was useful and easy to understand, it provided me with information on the changes that are slowly starting to take place and will provide as good information for my documentary. The information was not bias as it was from a validated source and didn't contain opinions. Just factual information. I could use some of this information to state how the government and council are beginning to make small changes and provide helpful resources for the public.

Newspaper 2 - Daily Mail article (published by Daniel Bates June 2011)
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2009128/Junk-food-adverts-really-make-children-hungry-unhealthy-meals-say-scientists.html

Quote -

'After exposure to junk food adverts there was a significant increase in the number of children who chose branded and non branded foods that are bad for them. The effect was especially true for children who usually watched more than 21 hours of television a week'

This quote explains how children who are exposed to junk food and unhealthy foods in general on television are far more likely to choose/ask for the same types of food when shopping with parents are asked what they want to eat. The quote also says how this is more frequent in children who watch large amounts of television. Becoming another factor towards the obesity epidemic and unhealthy lifestyles within Britain.

Bullet point's of key information

• Britain is said to be on the brink of an obesity epidemic
• In 2011, 15% of 15 year olds in England were obese
• Fast food advertisements have a big influence on children's minds
• Dr Boyland claims such adverts should be shown at night when children are in bed

This information was relevant and easy to understand, providing me with some facts and figures and valuable information to help build my documentary. It gave an insight to the influence these big brands have on children and how it has become a factor to unhealthy lifestyles within the UK. Although the information may be slightly biased as it does not take into consideration the companies who own these brands that may just be trying to make money. These companies intentions may not be to influence children and children may not be their target audience.

Book 1 - 'Fast Food' published by Stephanie Watson (published 2008)
- http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pCgSvoj4SBwC&pg=PA7&dq=fast+food+and+young+people&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yUCPUtL6MOmy7AbpkYC4DA&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Quote -

'Before 1994, only about 5 percent of children with diabetes had the type 2 kind. But today, because there are far more overweight kids, 30 to 50 percent of children have type 2 diabetes according to the National Diabetes Education Program'

The quote highlights the significant increase in the number of children with type 2 diabetes (caused by obesity and overweight issues) since 1994, due to the increase in fast food chains and children's exposure to unhealthy foods. Also children watch alot more television and are exposed to fast food advertisements and products. This can make children influenced to buy what they see on television. Leading to more of a weight problem in the future.


Book 2 -

This information was taken from Google Books; Multicultural Citizenship: Chapter 5: freedom and culture. Written by Will Kymlicka:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=w5Kaqqy-W78C&printsec=frontcover&dq=multicultural+citizenship&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IwCOUsbRDqW47QaK14GABw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=multicultural%20citizenship&f=false

How another documentary hooked their audience (treatment)

I had a look at the documentary Supersize me, which had a similar narrative. Linking to the effects of unhealthy eating and the impact it is having. The documentary uses a number of techniques to apply interest and hook an audience in to watch more. For example, the opening scene to the documentary shows a bunch of school children singing fast food chain related songs. This will show the audience how passionate and interested young children are within fast food as they are the most influenced by. They may not know any health warnings at all and just strive for the good tasting food, this opening clip may show the audience how much of an impact fast food chains have made on children and almost become a shock factor and hook the audience to see more. The audience will see how children are exposed and an easy target for fast food. Leaving the viewer shocked and interested to find out more/finish the documentary. After this opening scene, melodic flute music begins to play. Starting out soft and then becoming more hard hitting and upbeat, creating tension for the audience to find out what happens. This music fits alongside the narrative and becomes more intense or dramatic when the effects of unhealthy eating are shown, or when something dramatic happens within the documentary. Morgan Spurlock also uses hard hitting facts and opinions to illustrate the effect of fast food around America and reveal to viewers how themselves may be wasting money for their own pleasure by ruining their body with fast food. This is a great technique to attract and hook an audience especially if people in the audience can relate to what is being said. If somebody see's a bit of themselves in something they instantly want to see more.

Pitch

Everyday our society is getting more and more diverse as people from different cultures and ethnicities move into our community. However, due to their differences these people tend to live secluded lives, and so therefore I would like to find out what we can do and what we do to support these different cultures. The holiday period is approaching and all I ever see are Christian decorations and celebrations, but what about people who follow different religions, they should also be supported and be able to celebrate on a bigger scale. Christmas is a time for peace and understanding, so why doesn't the council put up a verity of decorations for all beliefs. Everyone should be treated as equals, it doesn't matter what the majority support, we need to start considering the minority. I went to the local markets in Ashton and noticed that all the stalls are very mainstream, selling goods focusing more on a general appeal. However, there is one food stall set up by a man of Jamaican heritage who cooks some of the delicacies from his country. I was planning on asking him whether or not he feels that we do enough for other cultures and if the community should be more active in welcoming people of different nationalities. I was also going to go to a local area nearby that houses people who follow Islam, hoping that I could ask them the same questions and also find out what they  do to celebrate the holiday season. As well as finding out the view points of the minorities, I am also going to question the majority, to see their points of view on the subject matter. Through this I will find out how many of the general public do enough for different cultures.

As Manchester is a large city we will benefit from becoming a multi cultural community. In a number of ways we can be more diverse.