Research Aim On Childhood Obesity: Background Information (Research Paper Sample)

Research Aim
The main aim of the research analysis is to address the occurence of obesity in children and at the same time identify the reasons behind the common disease. The research examines childhood obesity based on the global consensus that childhood obesity continues to rise year after year. Owing to the neglect of regular exercise and suitable eating habits both at home and at school, childhood obesity continues to affect children at an alarming rate.
Introduction
This chapter focuses on dispensing an overview of the research proposal. It avails a brief presentation which includes the research questions that forms the cornerstone of the research. Furthermore, the introduction section takes precedence of the underlying disputable issues hinted in the phenomena included in the study and the crucial instructions that can be generally followed in the study.
Background Information
According to Green and Duffull (2004) obesity has persistently afflicted children on a global scale and in the western worlds it is termed as one of the most popular diseases with serious health repercussions. Obesity is most common among the poor in society due to the financial limitation of affording healthy food. Obesity is mostly attributed to heart diseases, some cancers and type II diabetes and at the same time leaves children vulnerable to the threat of such diseases. Comprehension of the economic and social forces that impact poor people in society helps in imposing policies that limit food that is commonly affiliated with obesity. Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have recently rated as the single two nations with the highest obesity cases(Ogden, 2014). It is worth noting that that other than income inequality obesity is also generated from and individual’s level of education. It is crucial to analyze childhood obesity on a global scale to ascertain its impacts in addition to information acquired by other researchers. According to Olstad and Ball (2015) good-tasty, high-calorie and inexpensive foods have now been distributed all over the world and promotion for such foods appeals to a large number of individuals. The epidemic of obesity is partly blamed on certain changes in the environment and behaviors of susceptible people. However, dietary changes cannot be entirely blamed for the obesity epidemic. Adopting technological innovations both in school and at home has made children reluctant in engaging in physical activities. This research analysis tries to compile information and statistical data that will be used to ascertain that determining the reason for the childhood obesity epidemic is the key to develop obesity prevention measures.
Relations to existing research
Based on research byMcLennan and Ulijaszek(2015) an estimate of 43million children were obese in the year 2010 hence a 60% rise in cases of obesity since 1990. By comparing the number of obesity cases between the rich and the poor, a greater number of these cases came from the poor side of the scale. Out of the 43 million, 35 million come from developed countries mostly the UK and the US (McLennan and Ulijaszek). There is a global consensus that neglecting physical activity and eating a poor diet are the most common factors that cause illnesses that could be avoided and death of children in Europe, and the fact that obesity continues to be a major problem in Europe creates a significant public healthunsettlement.Obesity in the adults of most European Union member states accounts more than 50% of the adult population (Green Paper, 2005). In the European Union, an estimated 22 million (30% 0f the total children population) children are overweight and this figure continues to grow by 400,000 anually(Public health, 2015). The main factors that are widely known to be the reason why the number of overweight children continues to rise yearly include; calorie intake and the modern lifestyle where children rarely engage in physical activity. According to BMC Public(2010)highest obesity levels are mostly observed in Western Europe and the United Kingdom. A study conducted by BMC indicates that in the UK, obesity levels stand at a rate of 24.9% making it the European country with the highest levels of obesity(BMC Public Health, 2010). These high levels of obesity in the UK are mostly attributed to the modern lifestyle of long office hours hence in saving time, fast foods are preferred by most employees; the continued use of the car instead of walking; eating food with high calories; computers and televisions.Sedghi(2014) explains that the number of obese people has been increasing at an alarming rate in the UK from 1980 to 2013. (Sedghi) further states that the number of obese boys and girls increased from 38.5% in 1980 to 43.5% in 2013. Tackling obesity related issues in children is one of the main points of focus by medical researchers.The growing number of obese children over the last three decades has been mostly prevalent in the UK. Inequalities in England indicate that individuals who are socially and economically better off compared to the lower class individuals are favored in terms of health care(Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003).Contemporary health studies indicate that there is a relationship between poverty and poor health. For example, smoking pervasiveness and self-reported longestablisheddiseases are all related with poverty. An increase in poverty levels is expected to result in broadening health inequalities. Poverty statistics are closely related to the number of obese children in Hackney hence the obesity levels have continued to maintain above national average(BMA, 2010). (BMA) further explains thatthe percentage of poor children has dropped from 44% in the year 2008 to 40% in the year 2009; however this prevails as roughly double the England’s national average. Childhood obesity in Hackney (situated in north east London) accounts for one of the highest number of obese children in England (BMA, 2014).
Research objectives
The findings of the research will be utilized in dealing with issues that lead to obesity in children thus reducing the pathology in both children and adults.
The study will address the following questions:
1 To identify obesity levels in children attending school.
2 To outline aspects of obesity among children in school.
3 To determine whether elements that cause obesity are more important at home or in the school environment.
Research design
Introduction
This section explains the inclusive and non-inclusive of elements of the research. It aims at a continuous analysis of the research for a better comprehension of the underlying issues. This section mainly explains the essence of conducting the research and also identifies beneficiaries of the study and how they will benefit.
Study scope
The data that will be utilized in the research will be drawn from a cross section survey conducted at the Hackney in London. According to Gail(2000)cross section studies are mainly used to study either an entire population or a subset that is selected from the entire population but stands for the characteristics of the population. The study will be designed to avail information on factors that cause childhood obesity, poor eating habits of children in school and at home and children’s involvement in physical activities such as sports based on the school’s learning hours. Data on the factors that lead to childhood obesity and children’s eating habits will be assessed using clinical evaluations that will measure the height and weight of the children. The study will also incorporate a second part that involves participants filling out questionnaires after the clinical evaluations. The following research method will be suitable for the research due to the ability to cover a wide range of children with obesity in schools which are expected to give a satisfactory result of the research data. It also indicates data at a certain period when childhood obesity levels rapidly increase in the data collection period(Jekel, 2007).
Data collection
Categorization of data sources is classified into either secondary or primary data. Primary data is collected from questionnaires, interviews, observations, experiments and surveys. Secondary data on the other hand is collected from books, journals, publications, newspapers and sources from the internet. Merits of secondary data as stated by Axinn(2006)include time saving: internet sources have simplified access to information much quicker compared to other data sources. Accessibility of secondary data sources gives merit to secondary data over primary data. Secondary data also saves cost in terms of transport cost and other logistics unlike primary data where cost must be incurred. The limitations that can be identified in secondary data include: information from previous years may not reflect the current situation. Another demerit of data sources includes the fact that some sources may not be credible and researchers may fail to know this(Susan C. Weller, 1988). Primary data on childhood obesity will be collected through the issue of questionnaires essentially containing closed questions that are mainly addressed to the parents of 50 children with ages between 13 and 17 selected from a sample size of 5 classes. Thechildren will be intentionally selected from Haggerston secondary school specifically to children who have the intellectual ability to read and interpret the questions in the questionnaire. The questions will be quantitative in nature hence participants will answer them using grading or scaling. Open ended questions will also be included in the questionnaire to establish respondents opinion on the reasons behind the increasing obesity levels in childhood.
Data presentation
Both secondary and primary data will be incorporated i...