Script

Slide 1:
Good Evening my fellow class mates and instructors of Landscape Architecture 220.
Today we are going to discuss an issue which needs to be fixed immediately. As you
look at this image of the United States of America, you will recognize the
significance that obesity has in United States of America. It was recently recorded
that more than 65% of American are overweight to obese. This epidemic needs to
stop now, and who could help solve this problem. Yes you guessed right, a
landscape Architect.
Slide 2:
Now look at this image. This image is depicting the rate of strictly obesity in the
United States compared to 9 other major countries. As seen, America blows by
every other nation when it comes to obesity and that is terrible! The United States
of America always wants to be number 1 but I am sure that they did not want to
be number one with this statistic! This is due to how the landscapes are designed
in the United States of America, compared to other countries since there is left
physical movement.
Slide 3:
Yes that is correct! We are now talking about the future of these countries, the
children. The dear children who have lacked physical movement based on the
designs of the landscapes. Children in United States have surpassed all other
countries when referring to child obesity and that is terrible. These is no instance
where America wants there future to be in the physical shape and as of now, there
is precisely sticking 39.5 obesity rate among children.
Slide 4:
Now lets take a closer look at obesity among males and females. As of 2012, a little
less than 40 % of males were overweight, more than 30 % of males were obese and
almost 5 % were labeled extremely obese. Females, on the other hand were
calculated to have over than 30% overweight, and a surprising number of nearly
40% obese and nearly 10% extremely obese. Landscape Architects need to come
and create a more walkable community in order to avoid such high rates of
overweight and obesity.
Slide 5:
For the past minute and a half I have been explaining to all of you how significant
obesity is in the American society. But now Im going to answer the question that I
know all of you were thinking, What could a landscape architect incorporate in
their design to help such an issue? Well one solution would be to add recreation
programs. Recreation programs are places where children are being active and have
kids physically move rather than sitting down on a couch and watching SpongeBob.
According to studies conducted by the University of California Berkeley in 2011 that
if all children in the study had matching recreational programs near their homes, up to nine point five

percent would move from overweight to normal and approximately two percent would move from obese
to overweight.
Slide 6:
Now I just wanted to include what an example of a recreational soccer schedule would look like for any
of you in the audience were confused. As you can see, each practice schedule is relative to the age of the
child since these recreational programs have the kids participate an ideal amount a week to be at a healthy
point for exercise. For example a U10 would have two night per week practice when a U6 would have
one night per week
Slide 7:
Another solution which landscape architects can incorporate in their designs in order to decrease the rate
of childhood obesity would be the addition of parks. These parks would allow these kids to move around
and have fun! These kids will be able to meet other kids and not only help their health but will also
benefit them socially. But a very crucial point with parks is that they must be constantly furnished since
people want to go somewhere that is clean, not that is vandalized and looks like it is highly dangerous.
Slide 8:
Just when you all thought that obesity couldnt get any worse now look at this! Not only will these
individuals who are obese suffer socially and economically since the medical cost of obesity and unfair
treatment in the workplace and bullying amongst kids. But they will also have greater chances in adapting
these deathly medical complications! Pulmonary disease, gall bladder disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes,
and so much more! If landscape architects dont start helping this issue then just imagine how many more
Americans each day will continue to suffer.

Slide 9:
Look at this graph! This graph is showing us the healthcare costs due to obesity and are the estimates of
what various conditions add to health service costs over a 12- month period, based on survey of 10,000
people. Obesity has took the spotlight once again and is leading all of the other healthcare cost with a
number of $395. The cost which is behind it is over $160 difference. This is incredible! Landscape
architects need to incorporate some of these solutions which were stated previously in order to decrease
the amount of heath care cost due to obesity.
Slide 10:
Everybody in this room right now has been a victim of bullying at least once in their
life and we all can agree that it comes with a terrible feelings. According to JoAnn
Stevelos, a master of science, fifty-eight percent of male and sixty-three percent of
female high school students experience a form of bullying daily. Think about that!
Each day these kids are put in this emotional state just because of their weight!
Obese children not only struggle to lose the weight but constantly get reminded
about their weight. If landscape architects add parkland to areas then less kids will
be overweight and will not suffer from this kind of bullying!