Connecting Knowledge and Research

Meet Ray. Age 7 to 12

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Meet Ray. Age 7 to 12 Program Transcript FEMALE SPEAKER: As Ray grows, the family moves around a lot from short-term

rental, to hotel, to campground depending on the season. While this exposes Ray to a

diverse set of experiences and people, it also leads to lack of continuity in schooling and

social relationships as Ray transfers school districts. Ray does well academically,

particularly in math, but does not engage in after school activities preferring to be home

when his mother has a brief break in between her two jobs.

Ray and his mother Mary attend Catholic church services weekly. The family does not

have medical insurance or access to regular medical care aside from Ray's inhaler

provided by the school. The only affordable and accessible food in their area is

processed and high in fat and sugar. Both of these circumstances affect the physical

health of a family with Ray being overweight and Mary obese. In Ray's early

adolescence, Mary develops diabetes and cardiovascular disease linked at least part to

her history of obesity and smoking.