One third of the world’s population is obese according to a recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet. It’s a global public health crisis that is likely to challenge experts for many years to come, including professors and future alumni of the College of Charleston’s public health program.
RELATED: Read an article in USA Today about the obesity study.
“I think obesity is currently the number one issue in the U.S. and in ‘developed’ countries and it seems to be growing in importance in other countries as well,” says Matt Page, assistant professor of public health in the Department of Health and Human Performance. “One public health issue that is not covered as extensively as it should be and will, unfortunately, likely continue to grow is antibiotic resistance. Interestingly, while obesity does have some immediate impacts, its graver consequences tend to be more long term. On the other hand, the impact of antibiotic resistance, especially for someone affected by a resistant pathogen, can be much more immediate.”
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The College of Charleston has one of the only undergraduate public health majors in the country that offers both B.S. and B.A. degree options. Graduates in this interdisciplinary program are prepared for a wide range of careers at institutions such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
RELATED: Learn more about the College’s public health program.
“This study is something I might talk about in my classes, namely Epidemiology (HEAL 350) and Biostatistics (HEAL 395), to talk about the methodologies employed,” Page notes. “The topic itself could and should be covered in our Introduction to Public Health (HEAL 215) and Nutrition courses (HEAL 257).”
