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Martha G. Kwon
Mrs. Joy ODowd
Anatomy/Physiology
6 March 2015
Prompt #1: Disease
In this assignment, we were given the task of keeping a food log
in an attempt to bring attention to the quality of our daily intake of
food. We eat in order to maintain homeostasis, and in most cases, we
eat the proper amount to sustain us through our day. However, when
one moves away from said homeostasis, disease is introduced: an
illness or sickness characterized by specific signs and symptoms
(Deaths and Mortality). Disease can range from Addison Disease to
osteochondritis, but also includes familiar names such as obesity,
diabetes, and heart disease. Obesity is the condition of having too
much body fat (Obesity), diabetes is the condition when ones blood
glucose levels are too high, and heart disease has to do with
conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessel that can lead
to a heart attack, chest pain, or stroke (Diabetes). All three are
preventable diseases that are prevalent in the US and are amongst the
top diseases that Americans die from each year (Deaths and
Mortality).
Whether these three diseases have been prevalent in the U.S.
really depends on the time period one is considering. However, if we

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are looking back only into the 20th century, statistics show that obesity
and diabetes were not prevalent. Only in recent decades have the
numbers increased for those diseases. Less than 15% of the adult
population was obese in 1990, a number that has dramatically
increased to 69% in todays times (Surgeon General). Diabetes also
was not prevalent until the beginning of the 21st century and studies
are proving that the numbers of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes
is on the rise: one out of three American adults are expected to have
diabetes in 2025 if this trend continues (Disease). On the other hand,
heart disease has been common since the 1900s and has actually
decreased in recent years because of modern awareness. Heart
disease was such an issue because unawareness of the effects of
cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity, as well as the popularity
of bad habits such as smoking greatly increased the risk in the 1900s
(Heart Disease). The numbers of fatalities increased until it hit its
peak in 1968 (Heart Disease). Since then, the numbers have
decreased and continue to lower as risk factors of heart disease are
being emphasized in society today through the work of community
workshops, school programs, and general caution (Heart Disease).
These trends are not applicable to the rest of the world; obesity and
diabetes are not usually issues in poverty-stricken countries and
because cardiovascular disease stems from these concerns, heart
disease is also not as prevalent in some other countries. Widespread or

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not, each of these diseases are considered preventable and are largely
connected to nutrition and exercise.
Nutrition and exercise play major parts in preventing obesity,
diabetes, and heart disease. Diets high in unhealthy fats and sugars
are largely responsible for the development of obesity and diabetes. As
America becomes more prosperous, foods that are high in calories, low
in nutrition, but very tasty have become readily available to all people
(Roth). Advances in technology also make it easy to forgo the tenminute walk to the store in favor of driving there instead. Since the
society we live in is fast-paced and highly dependent on quick
transportation; daily physical activity is not as encouraged or as
enforced (Roth). As mentioned before, heart disease very often
develops as a result of diets that lead to obesity or diabetes. Eating
unhealthy fats and bad cholesterol leads to the build up of plaque in
the blood vessels of Americans, resulting in coronary heart disease.
Daily exercise and a fresh diet would definitely help avoid this
condition, and are being advocated effectively if the steadily
decreasing numbers are true (Disease). Obesity, diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease can happen to anyone and should be
considered as real threats to ones well-being whether he or she is
considered healthy or unhealthy.
Family histories of diseases are good indications of what
disorders or diseases one should look out for in the future. In my

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family, my dads side has a history of diabetes, and both my parents
have high cholesterol. East Asian culture and diet is comprised of lots
of simple carbohydrates such as white rice and flour, foods that are
known to spike blood sugar. Because of these conditions, I could have
an increased susceptibility to diabetes that the average person, but
because my current diet and lifestyle does not reflect a typical
Koreans lifestyle, my chances are low. I do not eat white rice or high
glycemic foods very often and make it a point to eat complex
carbohydrates, keeping my blood sugar levels even. My intake of large
amounts of fruits and vegetables also helps to keep my blood sugar
levels at a steady level. Exercise is also an integral part of my life in
contrast to that of my parents. Overall, because I am generally very
conscious about my health and food intake, my chances of having
obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are low. However, I am lucky to
belong to a demographic where I can be picky about the foods I
consume; there are many who cannot, and the inability to do so affects
their susceptibility to preventable diseases in a negative way.
Money, social class, and race are major socio-economic and
cultural issues that can affect how well one can prevent these
diseases. If one does not have the resources to purchase whole foods
and has a family to feed, then practicality will trump health. Similarly,
if one is situated in a lower class in society, putting food on the table is
a bigger concern than worrying about whether or not the chips contain

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hydrogenated oils. In the same way, if one comes from a background
of tradition that is heavily emphasized with foods high in saturated fats
and refined sugars, those traditions often hold greater value with
families than looking out high blood pressure. Children cannot really
control what is put on the table every night so their risk of contracting
one of these diseases also increases. There are many more socioeconomic and cultural factors that can hinder ones chances of
preventing obesity, but awareness that there is a possible problem is a
key first step in taking preventative measures. In brief, America has a
long history with obesity, diabetes, and heart disease with trends that
continue to change dramatically. These diseases in some cases have
not always be prevalent, and definitely should not be. In doing this
assignment, we were able to analyze and critically look at our own
well-being and to hopefully identify some possible concerns in order to
take preventative measures ourselves.

Bibliography
"Deaths and Mortality." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 06 Feb. 2015. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
"Diabetes." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 01 Aug. 2011. Web. 02 Mar. 2015.
"Disease." MedicineNet. MedicineNet, 30 Oct. 2013. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.

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"Heart Disease." Definition. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research, 29 July 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.
"Obesity: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National
Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2015.
Office of the Surgeon General (US). "Background on Obesity." Background
on Obesity. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2015.
Roth, Carl. "Heart Disease." NIH Fact Sheets - Heart Disease. National Heart,
Blood, and Lung Institute, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2015.