Developing Critical Thinking. The United States is suffering from an overweight and obesity epidemic and it is not alone. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that more than 1.4 billion adults, age 20 and older, worldwide are overweight and more than 500 million of these people are obese (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/). Health care systems in many countries are being overwhelmed by weight-related illnesses. What should be done? Using the critical thinking cycle discussed in this chapter, how would you approach answering this question?

1. Question at issue: What is the need that has arisen?

2. Purpose: What is your goal with this inquiry?

3. Information: What information do you need to reach a reasonable conclusion?

4. Concepts: What laws, rules, and principles guide your inquiry as you look for an answer?

5. Assumptions: What are our presuppositions? Do any need to be questioned?

6. Points of View: What perspectives come into play here? Are individuals responsible? Should the sale of sugary items be restricted?

7. Interpretations and Inferences: What conclusions can you reach given the material you have found? How did you arrive at your conclusions?

8. Implications and Consequences: What would be likely to happen if your solutions were adopted?

What would critics say or do? What would supporters say or do?