Provide names of other journalists involved.
Maureen O’Hagan
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
12-Jun-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Through the story of Nathan Stoltzfus, a 14-year-old who is overweight and struggling to cope. Maureen takes readers along as Nathan confronts a typical day– the pressures, the temptations, the cruel twist of having a twin brother who can eat anything and stay thin. Detailing the disconnect between well-meaning policy and family reality, Maureen’s reporting on childhood obesity shows how millions of dollars in the state have gone to programs with little chance of succeeding. She maps our cultural drift while deciphering brain science, describing how food cues make our brains light up: “Your thoughts slip into those newly laid tracks and can’t get off, the way your skis follow along in a cross-country trail.” “You see it in laboratory rats, too. They’ll brave the possibility of electric shocks to keep eating their junk food. Even bacteria swim to sugar.”
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Public health records included studies, government obesity data and interviews with experts in the field. FOIA was not required.
Explain types of human sources used.
The key in this project was to find the human sources — the families — and the kids — willing to open up. Maureen was able to work with these individuals to tell their stories because they wanted to see a chance in the policy behind obesity and societal attitudes about weight.
Results:
Increased awareness in the community and Maureen’s work is being used as part of efforts to increase health coverage by the foundation that sponsored her work.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No corrections.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
The hardest part is finding individuals willing to open up.