Exposure to Video Display Terminals and Associated Neuromuscular Pain and Discomfort in Male and Female Undergraduate University Students

This paper explores the gender differences with respect to potential negative physical effects associated with prolonged Video Display Terminal (VDT) use. In this cross-sectional survey, we distributed self- reported health questionnaire along with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to 278 University of Ontario students (95 males and 183 females, aged between 17-32 years) in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Results showed that female students suffered more pain/discomfort in the neck/shoulder/hand and wrist (64.1%) in comparison to males (45.7%). Location of pain was also different in female students when compared to male students. This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that female UOIT students experienced increased negative health effects on exposure to VDTs in comparison to male students. This study will help facilitate more targeted interventions towards millennials and assist them in reducing pain/discomfort they may experience when using devices with VDTs

Payment where Payment is Due: Canada’s Federal Transfer System and a Needs-Based Solution to Health Transfer Spending

Since the 1950s, federal transfers have been moulded and remoulded under practically every Prime Minister. The current iteration of transfers, specifically the 2014 implementation of equal-per-capita funding through the Canada Health Transfer, poses major problems to regional disparities, and arguably favours provinces that have high growth; this leaves poorer provinces, like the Maritimes, to make major cuts to provincial budgets in order to maintain the standards set out in the Canada Health Act. This paper explores the history of transfers, why transfers are necessary for Canadians, as well as the criticisms of the current system. Following this, it is recommended that a needs-based model for determining health transfers be adopted; specifically, the model developed by Marchildon and Mou that accounts for an aging population as well as one that is geographically dispersed. This paper provides a more contemporary analysis on federal transfers as they relate to the health care system. Additionally, it focuses somewhat on the issues New Brunswick is facing currently as, among other things, a result of inadequate funding from the federal government

The Dove Club: Challenging Perceptions of Body Weight in Elementary School

This paper examines the creation of the Dove Club, an initiative at a Peel District Elementary School, by asking how the creation of the Dove Club is situated in a broader discussion of healthism and the increase in popular concern surrounding the alleged obesity epidemic. Reviewing the literature on the “obesity epidemic,” fat studies, and education, I highlight the impact of the “obesity epidemic” discourse on schools. In this paper, I analyze the mission statement of the Dove Club, and personal correspondence with a founding teacher. Using a social constructionist lens, I argue that the Dove Club reconstructs claims of health and healthy living by positioning teachers as key role models for young female students. Additionally, the Dove Club focuses on aspects of health, such as positive self-esteem, role modeling, and healthy living that are not intrinsically linked to weight. I interpret these actions as successful contributions to health by employing a Health At Every Size lens