1:

Moral Decision-Making

There are many different moral theories, each of which provides a different way of analyzing the moral dilemmas we face in our lives. These moral theories provide a systematic framework for making reasoned moral decisions.

This week, you will write about a time in which you had to make a difficult moral decision.

• Which moral theory did you use?
• What steps did you take to make the decision?
• What was your reasoning process?

2:

Is the U.S. Population Unhealthy?

Health-related behavior represents a prime target for improving the nation’s health. Today’s leading cases of disease and death are preventable chronic diseases (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma), and behavioral risk factors play a critical role in their development and management. Obesity is common, serious and costly problem in the U.S. Obesity affected about 93.3 million of US adults in 2015~2016. Fast food consumption has been linked to higher caloric intake and greater risk for obesity. As an increasing number of consumers are dining at fast food restaurants, policy makers are turning their attention to environmental and policy approaches that influence consumer choice, including mandated calorie menu labels in fast food restaurants. The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act included a provision requiring restaurants with more than 20 locations nationwide to post calorie information at the point of purchase.

Watch the following video: Supersize me

Explore the effectiveness of healthy living education.

Include each of the following aspects in the discussion:

• Do you think the posting of calorie counts will change behavior when ordering food?
• Has it changed your behavior?
• Suggest education that might influence diet and food choices
• Discuss if insurance premiums and health care charges should reflect a person’s unhealthy life style

3:

Government and Being Healthy

There is significant debate over how far to take population health. Detractors complain about nanny states (nanny state means a government that tries to give too much advice or make too many laws about how people live their lives, especially about eating, smoking, or drinking alcohol), They take no offense to encouraging healthful behaviors but are uncomfortable with what they see as an infringement on personal freedoms. For instance, should everyone have to have low sodium foods to protect people who have salt-sensitive diseases? Do people have the right to buy supersized sugary sodas? Those who promote regulating these items note that it is unfair for someone who maintains a healthy weight, exercises, and eats right be required to subsidize health care costs for those who do not.

Provide your thoughts on mandating healthful behaviors.

Include the following aspects in the discussion:

• Should manufacturers bear the costs of providing healthful food choices?
• Should consumers be required to pay more for unhealthful items?
• Should consumers be required to pay for disease/illness related to life style?
• Discuss if health care should be provided for those who cause their own illness/disease?