Introduction
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Health Fad: |
Details: |
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Tapeworms |
People used to infect themselves with tapeworms to lose weight, but the tapeworms would actually get into their stomach and can cause epilepsy and dementia. |
| The Atkins Diet | This health fad involves eating meat, seafood, eggs, cheese and few vegetables. It's supposed to be healthy, but it actually causes headaches, bad breath and illnesses. |
| Shark Cartilage | People believe this health fad cures cancer tumours, but scientists believe that sharks get cancer, therefore their cartilage does nothing. |
| Bloodletting | People used to believe that removing blood from the body would get rid of any chemicals or bacteria in the blood. |
| Tobacco | People thought smoking tobacco was good for you because it relieved headaches, but it actually destroys your lungs and causes cancer. |
Task
1) How is each health fad promoted?
Tapeworms are advertised through famous singers or actors. People see them doing it and think that it's awesome and they should be doing it too just because of a celebrity. Shark Cartilage is advertised through health magazines. Tobacco is advertised through media, sports sponsorships and in retail stores.
2) Tapeworm ad picture
3) I think the promotion of these ads would be successful because, for example, if a celebrity does it, everyone thinks it's right and wants to be like that famous person. If it's in a health magazine, which is supposed to be all about health and weight loss, people will believe it.
4) I think the promotion of these ads is unsuccessful nowadays because we have the Internet to tell us it's wrong.
5) I would be most likely to try shark cartilage because if I had cancer, I would do everything I could to get rid of it.
6) I would least likely try tobacco because I already know how it rot tens your lungs and kills you slowly.
7) A negative side effect for shark cartilage is that it doesn't always cure cancer because sharks get cancer too. A negative side effect for tobacco is it's a slow process of destroying your lungs and killing yourself. A negative side effect of tapeworms is instead of eating the food you digest, it causes diseases and sicknesses.
Process
Health Fad: Tapeworm
Person (name,age,gender,photo): Sherry Fuller, 40, female
Duration of health fad: 2 1/2 years
Reason for going on health fad: wanted to lose weight
Symptoms: Headaches, seizures, brain cysts caused by larvae
Did the health fad achieved what it claimed anyway?: no, the tapeworm burrowed into Sherry's brain instead of her stomach
Details of other similar cases: a Columbian man infected himself with a tapeworm to lose weight, but died when the tapeworm inside him got cancer.
| Health Fad | Tobacco |
|
Person (name, age, gender, photo) |
King George VI, 56, male
|
| Duration of Health Fad |
3 years |
| Reason for going on Health Fad |
King George VI had been smoking for a long time. He died because, after smoking for so many years, the tobacco caused lung cancer. |
| Symptoms |
Lung cancer, arterial blockages |
| Did the Health Fad achieve what it claimed in any way? |
Yes, it did. |
| Details of other similar cases |
Lee Marvin, a 67 year old actor from 1987, died from a heart attack after smoking for many years. Julie London, a 74 year old singer and actress from 2000, (Cry Me a River), died from a stroke after being a serious smoker. |
Evaluation
1. Types of fads in the tv show - including details of each:
tanning bed, phentermine diet pills
2. Types of people who normally are involved in these fads and why they want to do these fads:
young people who want good bodies, old people who want to look young
3. Side effects:
Tanning bed: lesions, sun spots, cancer, surgery
Diet pills: feeling like you're going to pass out, stomach aches, feeling nauseous, moody and bad attitude, heart problems, no sleep
4. Research information on the fads on the show to find more interesting facts to include in your mini report:
Tanning Bed:
• risk of melanoma increases by 75% if you use a tanning bed before the age of 35
• highest cancer risk category
• tanning can be addictive, like a drug
• pay a 10% tax every time you enter a tanning booth
Phentermine Diet Pills:
• causes dehydration
• weakness and fatigue
• nausea and headaches
• constipation
Conclusion
Credits
1: What have you learned from completeing the various tasks?
This Term in HPE, I have learned lots of information on different health fads. I have discovered how dangerous some of them can be and the different illnesses, disaseases and even death they can easily cause.
2: How do companies get people to try various health fads?
Companies get people to try various health fads by advertising on the media, internet or in magazines and books.
3: Design a better strategy for good health outcomes that would work over the long term?
Eat your vegtables, drink lots of water and try out some sport to stay fit and healthy.