FINAL PROJECT

Final research project: Adolescent obesity

Student’s Name

Institution

Date

Topic: Adolescent obesity

Abstract

Globally, the trends in obesity are causing serious concerns in public health and in various nations; this has threaten the viability of the primary health care delivery. It is a risk factor that has resulted in various cardiovascular diseases and has significantly enhanced mortality and morbidity. Due to the adolescent obesity, there has been a witnessed increased in the cost of health care and its related issues among the adolescents. It is thus a global phenomenon that has an impact in all socio-economic groups without considering the age groups, ethnicity and even sex. The prevalence cases have also increased over time and this presents a case where there will be global phenomena for the future generations if there are no appropriate interventions in place to curb the condition that is affecting a huge number of adolescent worldwide.

Key words: Adolescent, obesity, prevalence, interventions

Background

Obesity refers to a condition where an individual has excess fats in their body. People especially at an adolescent age, often do not take many considerations on their diets and this often results into increased fats in the body. This is also common with those who do not carry out many physical activities. Due to this, various tools have been used in measuring obesity among the adolescent. For instance, the body mass index (BMI) is one of the tools that have been used across the nations in measuring obesity, in particular for the adolescent since it takes into consideration the fact that these individuals are still growing at different rates due to their ages and sex (Popkin & Udry, 1998). The adolescent having a percentile above 95th get considered obese. In the long term, the individuals who have suffered obesity at adolescent have high chances of suffering the same condition during their adult ages. These people are also at high risks of suffering from the chronic diseases that impact on their physical health.

Introduction

Obesity among the adolescent is a critical health issue in the various parts of the world especially in the developed nations such as the United States. The conditions are associated with different health conditions such gallbladder diseases, hypertension, stroke and even the coronary heart diseases (Ogden et al., 2012). Due to these health conditions that possess health risk to the individuals, it is important to take the factors leading to such conditions into consideration since the treatment options for the people suffering from obesity is costly. It also involves various weight management practices that include surgical interventions, behavioral and the pharmacological interventions. Individuals, particularly in the adolescent age, should be encouraged to carry out practices that will prevent them from becoming obese. The adolescent period represents an essential window of opportunity for the lifestyle intervention to minimize or eliminate and control longer term fat accumulation in the body. During the adolescent period, the individuals should be encouraged to participate in the physical activities both outside and inside the school. They should also check on their dietary behaviors to minimize or take the required fats in their bodies (Popkin & Udry, 1998). Also, this stage of life is associated with the changes in the size and shape of the body that may trigger the dissatisfaction of the body and unhealthy eating and weight control practices including skipping of the meals or even restricting certain types of food in the diet. This paper aims to examine the adolescent obesity.

Topic: Adolescent obesity

Reason for topic selection

The choice of this topic got influenced by some factors. The primary reason is the significance of maintaining a healthy weight that is essential for the general health of the individuals. Also, it is essential to consider the weight of the adolescent individuals so as to look into various conditions associated with obesity that limits the quality and the length of the life.

Research questions

1. How the adolescent with obesity get treated in their communities?

2. What factors enhance adolescent obesity?

3. What is the prevalence of the adolescent obesity?

4. What can community do about adolescent obesity?

5. What policies can aid in the prevention of the obesity among the adolescent?

Unit II: Literature Review

Adolescent obesity

The terms used for the literature search were the (literature, review, adolescent, and obesity).

The database used for the literature review is the Microsoft access.

Literature review

The World Health Organization considers adolescent obesity to form one of the main serious challenges in the public health of the 21st century (Ogden et al., 2014). The Task Force in the United States illustrates that adolescent obesity is a health crisis and in the U.S history the rate at which the adolescent obesity is increasing is taking the turn of the events where if the epidemic is not reversed, then the parents will live longer and healthier lives than the following generations.

The obese individuals often experience physical injuries and other forms of chronic diseases. The epidemic also enhances the healthcare costs and reduces the economic productivity, and this has cost numerous countries their economies especially the United States. The earlier interventions had their focus on the responsibility of an individual and education on the challenges experienced by the people who are obese. However, there have been various new interventions that have involved the collaboration of community, public, regional and private organizations together with the local and state governments (Ogden et al., 2014). With this collaboration, there is a unified vision of changing the environment that results in obesity and also to enact the policies that encourage healthy lifestyles that prevent the adolescent from becoming obese. These include the activities or the practices that promote the adolescent to carry out exercises and on the good diets that discourage obesity among them.

Since 1980, the rate of the adolescent obesity has increased four times in the United States. For the adolescent between the ages of 12-20, the rate of obesity is 20.5 (Devol et al., 2007). Obesity is the condition when an individual has a high percentage of the body fat or the adipose tissue when compared to the lean body mass. The obesity in the people in the United States gets determined by the use of a screening tool called the body mass index (BMI). In its calculations, the factors considered include weight, age, gender and even the height of individuals. The rate of obesity often grows with age and thus for the adolescent who is obese if not monitored may end up spending the rest of their adult lives while still suffering from the same condition (Popkin & Udry, 1998). For instance, for the children aged between two and five years, the obesity rate was found to be 8.4% between 2011-2012 while for the adolescent between twelve and nineteen years the rate was found to be 10.5% (Ogden et al., 2014).

The adolescent who is obese is often at risk of developing severe diseases such as heart diseases, osteoarthritis, Type 2 diabetes and even stroke. In addition to these conditions, the obese individuals are also at risk of developing several types of cancers such as the breast, gall bladder, and esophagus, and ovary, prostate, and cervical cancer. Other complications that have effects on the health of the individuals include high blood pressure, sleep disorders, high cholesterol and the metabolic syndrome. The adolescent also suffers from both social and emotional complications including low self-esteem and bullying, challenges in learning and depression.

The adolescent obesity also has socioeconomic implications. The physical suffering that the people who are obese go through in their lifetime and the related diseases is not the only challenge that these individuals face for the epidemic. There are also economic and human costs associated with the adolescent obesity. The condition enhances the occurrence of the chronic diseases and the drastically annually in the nations such as the United States, the total costs for the obesity-related health care is $192 while that for the adolescent obesity is approximated to be $14 billion every year that also have an impact in enhancing the lifetime health costs (Devol et al., 2007). The research shows that the leading cause of the chronic diseases is obesity, especially to the adolescent.

From this analysis, it is projected that by 2030 the United States may experience the same rates of obesity to the levels of 1998 where the spending rates on health will reduce by $60 and the productivity enhanced by $254 billion (Devol et al., 2007). It is also established that one-half of the adult population in the US suffers from the chronic diseases having suffered obesity in their juvenile stages. Obesity accounts for the 75% of the causes of the chronic illnesses in the nation.

The health crisis of the adolescent with obesity causes a lot of human suffering in the form of discomfort and disease. This reduces the productivity in labor thus affecting the economy. Even though over time the epidemic is seen to be reduced, the society and economy stand to gain significant socioeconomic benefits and cost savings if the prevalence of obesity in the adolescent were to be reduced in the United States.

Of the three sources, the one published by Devol et al. (2007) had more information illustrating the common occurrences and the chronic diseases that are giving individuals a challenge in the United States. It also explains the economic crisis that the nation is going through due to obesity and the fundamental approaches that the people are putting in place to enhance productivity by 2030.

UNIT IV: Research Design and Methodology: Adolescent Obesity

In the final research project, I will employ the use of both qualitative and quantitative research in gathering the information. The reason for choosing this mixed approach is to get both the opinion of the individuals, giving the exploratory research findings and also ensuring that this research data is presented using figures especially in the prevalence cases (Bernard, 2011). This will also ensure that there is a comparison of various age groups who suffer the condition and this can get achieved through quantitative research. The use of both the approaches is also essential in the collection of large and variety of the information regarding the condition. The qualitative research will ensure that the researchers have had a deeper understanding of the topic under study. The type of research gives an opportunity for the systematic, in-depth evaluation of a question that cannot be realized with the quantitative research. Thus it has the main objective of increasing the understanding of the topic under study and the issues surrounding it.

On the other hand, the quantitative methods of the research will have more emphasis on the objective measurements and the numerical analysis of the information collected through survey or interview (polls) (Bernard, 2011). This can be manipulated through the computational techniques to ensure that the information realized is good analysis and gives the real picture of the individuals suffering from the condition. This detailed information provides the basis for the usage of these two methods that will ensure that the researchers have a deep understanding of the concept as well as produce the numerical analysis of the issues surrounding the condition.

In this case, there are various types of information that I will concentrate on their collection as far as the adolescent obesity is concerned (Bernard, 2011). The qualitative research will aid in the collection of the information on the opinions of the various people on the adolescent obesity and the reasons underlying its causes. It will also help in the provision of the ideas and the hypothesis regarding the type of obesity. On the other hand, the quantitative research will aid in the collection of the data such as the data on overweight and the prevalence of obesity. I will also use the message to collect the information on the number of the cases where individuals who have suffered obesity in their adolescent age still suffer the same condition during their adult lives.

In the collection of the data, I will use two different tools in the collection of this data. This will include survey and the interview. The survey will get carried in various areas and on different populations. I will be obliged to examine and record data in this area and among the individuals that will be used for the analysis. Besides, the use of the interview will be essential in carrying out the qualitative research since it will help in the collection of the opinions and the ideas from various people especially from the individuals suffering from this condition (Suchindran et al., 2010). The use of the interview in the data collection also enhance s the qualitative research since it will give the researcher the opportunity see the feeling on the individuals and their families pertaining the condition, this is essential in collecting the qualitative data.

UNIT V: Data Instrument and Data Collection Tool

Part 1: Data instrument

In this project, I am conducting both qualitative and quantitative research. Thus it is a mixed approach research due to the need of getting both the opinion of the individuals and also ensuring that the data obtained during the research get presented in figures. In the research, I will conduct an interview with open ended questions. This will guarantee that I realized even the feeling of various individuals towards the adolescent obesity (Popkin & Udry, 1998). In conducting the interviews, it will be done face-to-face since this will ensure that I research my target audience as opposed to when using telephone or emails. Also, it will be essential in the capturing of both verbal and non-verbal cues that include the body language, a factor that can help me in identifying if there is discomfort in the types of the questions. It will also offer an accurate screening of the data on the research topic. It is also essential to capture the qualitative data such as the emotions of the individuals and their behaviors during the interview that will provide useful information for the analysis or final project as far as the adolescent obesity is concerned.

The interview will be one on one so that all the participant are given equal opportunity and also to prevent the group responses that some might comply with due to influence from the majority groups. Also, the one on one interview will enable the interviewer to keep track of the interviewee to remain focus on the completion of the exercise since they are in control of the interview.

The study population will be individuals taken from the general population but have certain shared characteristics, for instance, the health condition that is those suffering from obesity, age (the adolescent) and also sex, that is, there will be groups of male and female. The population of different age groups especially the adolescent and the adult will help in the in the provision of the data of the individuals who suffered the condition while in adolescent stage and after becoming an adult.

Part 2: Data Collection Tool

Obesity is a critical issue among the adolescent, and it is associated with various health conditions that present these individuals with various challenges. The primary goal of this study is to collect information on the adolescent obesity which will be essential in determining its prevalence and the economic impact it has in various nations. This forms the primary reason for conducting the research coupled with the need to identify the risk factors associated with adolescent obesity. Also, I would also like to know the feeling of the individuals not suffering from the condition towards those affected with this condition. This participation will take five days while interviewing various people of varied characteristics based on age, gender and health conditions.

Questions for the interview

1. Do you think the adolescents are getting enough education on eating health and fitness?

This is an essential question for the study since it helps in determining the interventions and the efforts from the school administrations that have been put in place to prevent the adolescent from becoming obese. Also, it will help in determining the satisfaction of the interviewee by the fitness practices set in place in various schools. This will be essential when giving the analysis on the project whether these measures are suitable interventions in the fight of the condition.

2. How early do you think it is effective for the individuals to get exposed to physical fitness and good eating habits?

The question is crucial for the study since it will help in the determination of the time span when the individuals should get exposed to the physical exercises. Exercise is an essential factor that reduces or prevents obesity, and with the perspective of various people, a suitable age bracket can get realized. Also, it is important to educate people on the appropriate age when children should be placed in a healthy diet to prevent them from becoming obese.

3. Do you think it is essential for schools to introduce gym classes for the adolescent?

The question is critical for the determination of the types of the activities these children should be put into while striving to prevent them from being obese. It is important to note that not all types of exercises will assist the adolescent, but if they are guided to effective practices, then they will be much better health wise. The question is also good for the study since it shows how individuals feel the school should get obliged in chipping in to offer help in the fight for obesity among children.

4. Do you think parents are at fault of their child's obesity?

This an important question in the study since it helps in determining the individuals and factors assumed to contribute to obesity among the adolescent. The parents can be affected depending on the eating habits they place their children into. The interview thus will help various individuals presents their views that can be used to source for the interventions against this question.

5. In your thought, are the parents who are low-income earners have a valid argument when they say they do not have enough money to feed their family healthy food?

This is also a vital question that helps in identifying what individuals think about the relationship between income and adolescent obesity. The end goal of this question is to give an illustration to the parent who considers themselves as the low-income earners on the appropriate measures and types of food that they can offer their families regardless of their incomes. It is also an important aspect to awaken the parents who might have given up in their families' condition thinking that there is nothing they can do to remedy the situations about their health.

6. How often do you think the adolescent or children should eat fast food?

This question aims to determine what people think about the relationship between the fast food and obesity. In this study, it will help in the identification of what influence or effect fast food has on obese individuals and whether it initiates the condition. It also helps in the determination of whether there is a measure or amount that people should not consume in the fight of the condition.

7. What would be the best way to change a child or an adolescent from the junk food to healthy food?

Junk food has been identified as one of the aspects enhancing obesity. The research question will be essential since it will provide a green light on what the parents should do in trying to transition their children from the junk food to health food. It will also illustrate the effect the transition will have on the children.

8. What ways do you see the companies are changing to promote healthy eating habits for the adolescent?

This is a vital question in the project that illustrates the role food companies are playing in the obesity of the adolescent. The question will give an illustration of what people think of these companies. It will also ensure that the individuals provide the suggestions on what should be done to avert the situations.

9. Have you observed any ways the food companies are changing to promote healthy eating habits in children?

This is a vital question in the project since it will illustrate the efforts put by the food companies in the fight for obesity. This will illustrate the measures that are essential in this fight and whether these measures are appropriate for the obese individuals. The question will also give the chance for the respondent to state whether these changes has a role to play in child obesity?

10. Are there some of the economic impact adolescent obesity has in the economy of various countries, for instance, the United States?

For the project, the question is important since it examines the economic impacts adolescent obesity has on the economy of a given nation. This will range from the productivity of the individuals suffering from the condition to their effectiveness in doing various economic activities. Also, it examines whether there are some interventions that the government of various countries bring in for the fight of obesity in adolescent.

UNIT VI: Data Analysis Plan

The plan for the analysis of the data will incorporate the determination of its accuracy, the different types of variables collected, and the statistical tests to get utilized in answering the questions and whether or not the analysis will include consultations from experts.

In the determination of the accuracy of the data collected, I will ensure that I separate the data from the analysis and make this analysis repeatable. This can get achieved through the utilization of the high-level statistical oriented scripting languages such as matlab or SAS or even the general-purpose language like Python (Ogden et al., 2012). The accuracy of the data can also get determined by checking the information against another source. In such a case, there are various elements that I will focus on such as the total aggregate counts and the averages. Also, the accuracy can also get done by doing an exploratory data analysis beginning with the raw data so as to have an idea on how each variable looks like. Also, I will ensure that I document my entire process so that I can revisit it each time as I do the comparison with the other sources. In the meantime, I can also communicate to the other individuals who can check and then validate the logics in the documents as a measure to obtain accurate results. Getting feedback from such individuals is an essential aspect and this allows me to hear their insight a factor that is significant in improving my analysis.

In the project, I will collect various types of variables. This will include the nominal variable, also called the categorical variables that do not have the numerical values (Ogden et al., 2012). This in this case may include the opinions of different individuals or views on the various aspects that enhance the condition. Also, I will collect the ordinal values those are the numerical values that in the case may present the prevalent cases of the adolescent obesity among the population of study.

In the project, I will use two main statistical tests. This will include the correlational statistical test that will ensure that I look for the association between the various variables. Having determined the research questions, there are some aspects like the manner in which the food companies are related to the adolescent obesity and the impacts the condition has in the economy. Also, I will use the spearman correlation test that will be used in the determination of the strength of the association of the ordinal variables, that is, the valuables that can get categorized.

It is essential to hold some little consultations to the expert over various issues on the project. This may include the issues to do with the accuracy of the result and other challenges that one might encounter as they carry out the process of data collection. It also allows the experts to bring in some of the issues and the concerns that relate to health that an individual might not have covered in the process but are essential. Also, there are various aspects that an individual may not know about the project but with the consultation from the experts, these individuals will give the necessary guidelines that will help in achieving the goals of the project. It is often better getting various points of view so as to do the analysis and find the best solution and this is what the experts provide. This is the key to consultation of the experts.

UNIT VII: Final Research Project

Conclusion

The obesity in adolescent has increased to greater levels globally and has resulted in various consequences to the public health. In this research project, I hope to learn different aspects. These include the economic problems that obesity has caused to nations. I also intend to learn about the various cardiovascular diseases that are associated with the condition, and this will incorporate the related health problems that arise due to adolescent obesity (Bernard, 2011). Thus the above will seem to study the possible implication adolescent obesity has to both the public and individuals. Also, the study of the project will aid in realizing the various measures or interventions put in place by different groups of people in the fight or in trying to reduce the condition among the adolescent. I intend to learn the efforts put by the schools, parents and even the various food companies all over the nations. This is an essential part of the study as I will learn what roles these participants play in childhood obesity and what are they doing over time to ensure that the situation is eradicated in the future generation. I will also learn the appropriate curriculum activities that the schools can offer in the fight for adolescent obesity and effective for this practice.

After collection and the analysis of the data, I intend to communicate the findings of the research through publication in the scholarly journals since relaying this information by word of mouth or just writing a summary report will not help in making the necessary changes in the public health sector as far as adolescent obesity is concerned (Bernard, 2011). I can also communicate the information through a poster presentation at the local and national conferences, dissertations or even presentations at the local unit meetings and different hospital committee meetings. All these will aim to reach large number of individuals as well as give a lasting impression on people.

With this information, I will ensure that I offer educational services regarding the findings of the research so that I establish awareness on various individuals on what is to be done to reduce and prevent the future generations from suffering from the same conditions.

The project has thus provided me with a new insight and view of adolescent obesity. It is a condition that has made individuals to suffer from various health related diseases including various chronic illnesses. It has also impacted on the economy of different nations considering productivity and efficiency of the employees (Bernard, 2011). In the research project, it was important to use both the qualitative and quantitative research methods so as I would establish both the opinions of people and the numerical figures, especially when collecting the ordinal data. Also, interview and survey were the tools for the collection of data. The interview was to be one-on –one to help me control the process and keep track to its completion knowing whether the questions were causing discomfort to the interviewees. This was also essential in determining the reactions and behavior of different people in regards to adolescent obesity.

Also, I am also obliged to determine the accuracy of this information that I have collected in the research, and it is essential to have some of the measures in place for the determination. This will ensure there is no bias in the information given. It can be done through comparison with the other sources and even consulting the expert the documenting it for communication. In this communication, there should be selected communications means that will ensure that this information reaches the target audiences to spread the message of change to these people. Thus this project is of great importance in fighting obesity among the adolescent all over the world and will ensure that the condition is reduced or eradicated among the next generation when the interventions identified get adopted. This should also include the communal intervention.

Reference

Bernard, H. R. (2011). Research methods in anthropology: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Rowman Altamira.

Devol, R., Bedroussian, A., Charuworn, A., Chatterjee, A., Kim, k., S. & Klowden, K. (2007). An unhealthy America. The economic burden of chronic disease. Charting a new course to save the lives and increase productivity and economic growth. Milken Institute Publications, 2. Ogden, C., Caroll, M., Kit, B., & Flegal, K. (2014). The prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. 806-814.

Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999-2010. Jama, 307(5), 483-490.

Popkin, B. M., & Udry, J. R. (1998). Adolescent obesity increases significantly in second and third generation US immigrants: the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The Journal of Nutrition, 128(4), 701-706.

Suchindran, C., North, K. E., Popkin, B. M., & Gordon-Larsen, P. (2010). Association of adolescent obesity with risk of severe obesity in adulthood. Jama, 304(18), 2042-2047.