All of the episodes detail different case studies where environment, socio-economic status, culture, genetics and biology have interacted to create disease and poor health outcomes. Your objective
is to provide a film summary and reaction. Additionally, you are to synthesize the information presented into course material how the health conditions presented in the episode tie into the
concepts presented in the fourth part of the semester.
• Choose an episode (the episodes range from 30-40minutes; watch multiple in order to decide which episode you want to write about). Make sure you state the title of the episode you chose.
• Write a summary of the episode.
o Detail what the episode is about (what populations are involved, where are these people located, what are the health conditions/problems affecting them. For some episodes, there may be
multiple conditions: low life expectancy, low birth weight babies, obesity, etc.).
o What is being argued or hypothesized about the causes of these diseases and health disparities. This should include the biological causes (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.) and
the socio-economic and cultural causes (e.g. Allostatic load, unemployment, poverty, stress, malnutrition, food deserts, social policies, social inequality, etc.). Include all those that the
episode mentions. Make sure you are specific to the episode you watched. Do not just state, ‘poverty.’ How is poverty, or stress, etc. affecting the particular population?
• Define three concepts found in the 4th section. Epidemiological Transition: this information can be found in your textbook as well as the power-point slides (4th section-chapter 17). Define
secular change (4th section—chapter 17). Define the ‘Thrifty Genotype’ hypothesis (4th section—chapter 15). 3 definitions and integration into the episode/ does one apply?)
• Do the health condition(s) presented in your episode fall under any of these concepts? Please explain why or why not. (Use the definitions of the concepts in order argue whether you think
they do or do not apply). (above)
• Reaction. Describe your reaction to the film. Do you agree with the information provided? Do you think the episode provides a well-supported argument that socio-economic factors are a major
cause of disease and health disparities? What are the major weaknesses and strengths of the episode (your job is to critique how the information is presented rather than critiquing the information
itself).
• Policy suggestions. Provide some suggestions as to how you think these health conditions can be improved. Your suggestions should incorporate solutions that address both the biological and
social causes of disease.