Interview of Family Member:
Interview two family relatives or individuals who have been influential in your life to gather the following information to determine your potential to develop diseases that could be life-threatening and/or life-limiting (i.e. heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, etc.). You will use this information, along with your personal dietary and lifestyle behaviors to evaluate your potential for development of these diseases and to develop a dietary and lifestyle action plan for the future as you complete this course.
Answer the following questions:
Current age of relatives or influential individuals
Age(s) at death, or current age, of close relatives (i.e. parents, grandparents, etc.) or individuals
What diseases and causes of death have been experienced by this “side” of your family?
Analysis of Dietary Habits of Family Member
How often did they eat per day?
Do/did they eat any of the following?
Whole grains or processed bread and cereal
Vegetables
Fruits
Dairy/condiments
Types of meat (beef, chicken, turkey, fish) and frequency of consumption of these and eggs per week.
Analysis of Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits of Family Member
What is/was the occupation of these relatives or individuals? What types and amount of physical activity does/did this require?
Do/did they engage in any recreational exercise? If so, what activities do/did they perform?
Did they engage in organized exercise? What type of exercise did they perform? How long were their exercise sessions?
Do/did they smoke? If so, how many packs/cans per day?
Do/did they drink alcohol? If so, how many drinks per day or week?
Your Personal Dietary and Behavior Habits
How often do you eat per day?
How many servings do you typically eat per day of the following (refer to your dietary analysis data to answer this question)
Whole grains or processed bread and cereal
Vegetables
Fruits
Dairy products/condiments
Meat, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs
How often do you engage in physical activity per week?
Average length of each exercise session
Average intensity of each session
Assignment: Family Health
Assignment: Your task is to write a two-page paper on a family health risk factor that you discovered when you conducted an interview of a family member. Some of the common health risks that run in families include the following: Abnormal CHD profile, abnormal ECG/EKG, age, diabetes, excessive body fat, gender, high blood pressure, inflammation, physical inactivity personal/family history, stress and tobacco use.
Your essay should include the following sections:
Introduction (one paragraph): The opening paragraph should provide a brief overview of your family health history and should identify and describe ONE key health risk factor that you plan to discuss in your paper.
Description of Risk Factor (multiple paragraphs): This section of your paper should discuss the signs, symptoms, and preventative measures of this risk factor. This information should come primarily from:
a. Textbook
b. Internet-be careful of legitimate sources
c. American Heart Association website
d. WebMD
e. Health Journals
Discussion of Risk Factor and Lifestyle (multiple paragraphs): The final section of your essay should discuss how this risk factor relates to you and what you plan to do to implement a healthy lifestyle program.
Writing Checklist:
Once you have written your essay, use the following checklist to make sure you have written a successful essay.
_____ Paper is typed, double-spaced, using a Times New Roman 12 point font.
_____ Paper includes details that are accurate and comprehensive. Details should come from both your own
experiences (and interview) and from sources you have consulted.
_____ Information you used from other written sources are documented appropriately.
(For help with documenting borrowed sources, go to the following link:
