INTR3053: Food Injustice & Chronic Disease

Over the past 80 years, we have seen an unprecedented rise in metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers.  These disorders, once thought to be diseases of the rich, are now pandemic in scope, and disproportionately affecting billions of socioeconomically disadvantaged people around the world. Despite advances in modern medicine, these chronic ailments cause more deaths, disabilities, and levy a heavier economic and mental health burden on the individuals and society today than they have in decade’s past.   Yet despite the overwhelming evidence that social and environmental factors play a major role in determining our health (the biggest predictor of health outcomes is not our genes or behaviors, but the zip-code we live in), public opinion and even modern medicine often place the onus of responsibility on individuals to prevent and manage chronic disease.  Furthermore, although the impression of body image on our psyche and society as a whole are undeniable, the very nature of metabolic disorders as a disease remains controversial. This has led to societal bias against, and stigma of, different body types, something we are still battling against today.

In this course, we will examine the root causes of poor health, including the pathophysiology, the complex environmental and behavioral causes, as well as the ethical, social and legal implications.  We will study the role of food marketing and the availability of low-nutrition foods in low-income communities.  Furthermore, we will scrutinize the hurdles to controlling and preventing metabolic disorders, including cultural, economic, and agricultural influences, as well as the omnipresent role of the media.  The structure of this course will be through group discussions of different topics to gain a better understanding of the problem of obesity, as well as its impact on our society, and possible solutions.  Reading materials will be assigned weekly on UC Canvas, and will typically consist of a series of articles and video clips that will be assigned each week and reviewed as a group in class.  You will be expected to write a brief (1 page or less) reflection on the article, as well as answer any questions posted on UC Canvas about the article. No article is perfect!  Discussions will include not only a reflection on interpretation of the writing, but also a critique of the paper. You are also encouraged to comment on other’s write-ups (which you will be able to view once you have submitted your own assignment).  This course is not a lecture, but a group led class with the instructor as a guide.