Dietary and anthropometric analysis of Perth elderly women compared to national standards - Essay Example

? Dietary and anthropometric analysis of Perth elderly women compared to national standards of Institute] [Nutrition] Acknowledgements Abstract All of us realize that anthropometry is recent times has developed into a new and highly advanced form of human science in recent times. With developments in this particular field of science taking place at a rampant rate, its benefits in the determination of human behavior as well as evolutionary origins has become quite prominent. During the course of this discussion we would specifically be assessing the ways in which dietary influences of people impose an effect on their anthropometric framework. It is also important to mention here that the study should specifically be based upon the people of Perth in Australia and basically comprises a comparative analysis of the trends that are specifically found in Perth and other places of the country. In order to gain better understanding and idea of the trend a qualitative study would be conducted to understand these trends and on the basis of the results which will be obtained from these results, concrete deductions and assessments would be made which would also manifest the nature and validity of the results that are obtained with the help of this study. However in the different phases of our discussion we would be also be highlighting the areas where we can also study and increase our scope of understanding regarding the factors of anthropometry and some of the prominent factors which pose serious effect on anthropometric developments because of these components. Contents Chapter1: Introduction 5 Chapter 2: Literature Review 9 Chapter 3: Methodology 12 Data Collection 14 Chapter 4: Results and Analysis 17 Results 17 Data Analysis 18 Conclusion 21 References 22 Chapter1: Introduction Before moving into further details and getting to know more about the basis of the research which we will be conducting during the course of this discussion it is important that we develop some basic understanding regarding the fundamental principles of anthropometry and the changes it undergoes due to dietary intake and other nutritional influences upon people. It is also important that we consider other important and integral factors such as demographic and geographical influences as well as the age factor in contributing to anthropometric changes that it helps in developing among individuals of Perth. However it is important that we first develop a clear understanding about the rudimentary of anthropometry itself so that our understanding capability is subsequently enhanced. In its simplest terms and form anthropometry is defined as the measurement of the human individual. It is quite an understood fact that the definition of the term might sound quite absurd when it is heard for the first time; however, it is important to understand that the science of anthropometry is widely used as a tool in physical anthropology primarily for the use and application of human physical variation. (Adams, 2011) In addition to this the technique is also widely used in paleontological sciences through the help of which correlation between different physical and psychological traits that are found in human beings of different age, size and nationalities. Another important point that needs to be mentioned here is that the contemporary usage of anthropometry is widely demonstrated in a number of fields today among which some of them include designing of clothes, ergonomics and even architecture in which with the help of statistical tools and data different dimensions of the human body are used for the optimization and preparation of products and designs which can be used on wide scale. (NASA, 1978) In addition to this it is also important to mention here that one of the crucial points on the basis of which anthropometric data undergoes continuous variation and changes which need to be recorded on periodic basis are those related to the epidemic of obesity which brings a profound change in the shape and size of the body. During the course of this discussion as mentioned earlier we would be looking at the relationship between dietary intake and the anthropometric changes that the human body undergoes as a result of these changes in the population of Perth. Table No. 1 can be seen at the end of this document. Apart from the scope of the study we would be conducting it is also important that we shed light upon the background information which is related to the topic subject of anthropometry. In this context it is also important to mention here that the kind of dietary intake and the consequent effect that it develops upon the shape of the human body also has a direct effect upon the silhouette of their body structure. In most of the epidemiological studies which are conducted and intend to research and investigate the relationship between the silhouette of the human body and the anthropometric results obtained, the use of silhouette of the human body is taken as a variable primarily because of the convenience that this particular component is able to demonstrate in the research conducting and application process. In comparison to this the component of weight needs to be regularly monitored and recorded which unlike silhouette adds more complication to the research process. Another important point that we need to consider in this particular phase of the research process is the relevancy and the contemporary level of significance of such topics. One of the key reasons due to which this research is of extreme significance in recent times is because of the ever rising and looming graph of problems like obesity which are a direct outcome of the dietary intake an individual gets. In most of the cases dietary intake people have manifests itself in the form of diseases which are commonly encompassed under the category of obesity. Obesity has emerged as one of the increasingly dangerous and biologically threatening enormities encountered by people in almost all countries of the world. In addition to this, it is also important to mention here that the effect of obesity are simply not anthropometric in nature, but to a large extent are biologically adverse also. (Marcus, 2002) Increasing body weight and regular intake of food and nutrition which contains unsaturated fats and cholesterol may impose serious biological repercussions upon the human body as soon as it enters the territory of aging. Some of the ramifications in which these effects are manifested include the emergence of problems like hypertension in which the blood pressure of the patient raises unprecedentedly, blood pressure, diabetes in which the insulin level of the human body undergoes abnormal variation and glucose which is an important respiratory substrate and source of energy for the body gets excreted out of the body in the form of urine. Along with this there are also other associated diseases which take place because of rising obesity in the human body such as kidney failure which can prove very fatal in the long run for the human body. In addition to this it is also important that we shed light upon the anthropometric changes that take place in the human body on the basis of their obese bodies. This is primarily because on the basis of the anthropometric changes that take place in the human body and the variation that it undergoes after getting obese has an entire industry dependent upon itself. The designs of garments, designs that are made on industrial level all are dependent upon the variations and the general background that people have regarding the changes that their body is going through. It is on the basis of these reasons that the significance of such studies which are in direct interaction with the human body and the changes which either beautify or tarnish its image are supposed to be studied with immense concentration and attention. Hence it is highly important that with the help of proper research and investigation we are able to assess results and form a strategy through the help of which we can develop a concrete relationship between the anthropometric variations that the human body undergoes and at the same time also intend to provide them with awareness about the changes that body on an internal level goes through as a result of these changes that take place in it. Chapter 2: Literature Review In this particular phase of our discussion we would be shedding light upon the various aspects of research which has been conducted on the variables of dietary intake and the resulting anthropometric changes that it leads to in people. The subject and area of anthropometry has been discussed under various banners out of which the most prominent area of attention has been the linkage of body composition and obesity. It is primarily because of the fact that the problem of obesity and overweight has been the most type of disorder which has been able to introduce anthropometric changes in the human body. In a study which has been conducted by Binns (2007) it has been statistically mentioned that in Australia alone there are 19% adult males and 22% adult females which can easily be categorized as obese. The research also states that the annual medical expenditure of these people is easily estimated to be around $830 million. The research was focused towards the different methods of research through the help of which anthropometric changes based upon the absorption of X-rays the samples number specified can easily execute. (Binns, 2007) Meng et al (2010) in a study concluded that the calcium intake by Australian elderly women through diet is not sufficient to their body needs. According to the study the intake of women in the age group of 70 to 80 years is as follows: Table No. 2 can be seen at the end of this document. One of the effects that anthropometric changes in body have been a source of direct attention towards people and professionals who are engaged in professions related to the design industry and to those who are either directly or indirectly related to the industry of garment making. ASCC (2009) published a study in which they highlighted the contemporary use of designs which can be applied into the design industry of Australia and the ways in which rampant changes in the anthropometry of consumer market induces a concomitant response in the market itself. In addition to this the research also helped in enlightening and responding to the value of the data which was obtained and simultaneously highlighted the importance that this sort of information has for people who are engaged in the process of designing clothes for people. (ASSC, 2009) Along with this the research also highlighted the ways in which the behavior of consumers has changed over a period of time regarding the awareness of anthropometric changes which take place and the kind of designs that they need to wear because of the changes that have started to take place in the shape and size of their body. In another research which has been conducted by WHO (2007) also sheds light upon the patterns of obesity and its relation with the component of dietary intake and how it contributes to the rising graph of obesity in different places and parts of the world. In addition to this the research paper provides a deep and highly investigated insight upon the different dimensions of obesity and the ways through which it is found in different societies of the world particularly European and Australian societies. (Branca, 2007) The paper has highlighted the micro and macroeconomic components which contribute to obesity. The research also sheds light on the marketing campaigns that are used as a tool to add further economic leverage to the food which is being sold irrespective of the nutritional quality that it can offer to people. In the limelight of the different researches which have been discussed in this particular phase of our discussion we might have been able to identify that the most researched and discussed area of research in relation to anthropometry has been in concern with the effects that it has developed upon the very phenomenon of obesity and the ways through the help of which it can be curbed. In addition to this some of the research which has been conducted also accentuates upon the changes anthropometry and its linkage with diet has developed upon different industries especially that of design and garments prepared on industrial scale and the ways through the help of which the looming menace of obesity can be curbed through bringing a new mode of dietary manual for them. With such nature and topics of research done and conducted in multitude aspects it became important enough to address the theme of the research in a completely new dimension and hence the relation between the components of anthropometry and the effect that it has on demographic and geographical distribution of people in Perth and along with this the factor of age and the role that it plays in contributing to anthropometric changes need to be properly and thoroughly investigated during this entire research. Chapter 3: Methodology This chapter contains information about the way in which this study was conducted. This chapter highlights different strategies, approaches, and methods through which the research was undertaken. This chapter discusses the appropriate methodology to collect the data that would be justified particularly for this research. Data collection technique and analyzing different types of data is also explained to undertake the research. The research has been carried out in a value-free way. Deductive approach is followed and questionnaire survey strategy is used to conduct the research. Research population is 60 women of age groups of 60 – 69, 70 – 79 and 80 years and above. The research has been carried out by using Positivist philosophy. Positivism is a school of thought developed by Comte who assumes that the life has been regulated by the natural laws, which social science has to uncover and document. Positivism sees reality as the sum of sense impressions, employs a deductive logic and quantitative research methods. Positivism focuses on a hypothesis that is why merger and acquisitions of pharmaceutical companies failed and what are the steps taken to avoid this failure. The research was undertaken in a value-free way. By adopting this method, the researcher emphasized on observations that helped the research to get the analysis (Bryman, 2008).   The research approach was chosen to conduct the research by deductive approach. Deductive approach involves the examining of a theoretical proposition by the employment of a research strategy specifically designed for the purpose of its testing.  It is suggested that the deductive approach is a dominant approach in such type of research (Mason, 1996). With the deductive approach, the research started with the theory and collected empirical evidence (questionnaires) to analyze with a view to accept the theory that the failure of merger and acquisition in pharmaceutical industry can be avoided. After theorizing and identifying the key concepts, the research defined key concepts more specifically before research questions can be answered. The selection of a qualitative phenomenological approach was deemed appropriate because the method is an inquiry approach useful for exploring and understanding a central phenomenon. Qualitative research is an inquiry process, designed to study different issues in detail through survey or interviews or both (Seale, 1999). In contrast, a quantitative research method focuses on a human social problem through the testing of a theory based on variables to determine accuracy of prediction. The fundamental difference between a qualitative method and a quantitative method lies in methodological philosophies. A qualitative approach provides researchers with current data through descriptions, analysis, and observation of social behaviors. The selection of a qualitative phenomenological study method was deemed suitable for the present study because the process can provide the researcher with the lived experiences of participants. The present study was designed to gather descriptive data through questionnaire survey. Qualitative data provides a source of well-grounded descriptive information that allows researchers to present factual results (Pope & Mays, 2000). Quantitative researchers force individual human behavior into rigid categories that can be analyzed numerically, whereas qualitative researchers utilize flexibility to watch individuals in their own setting, and allow questions to emerge and change during the interviews. Qualitative researchers believe that the best way to understand a phenomenon is to become immersed in it. By using a qualitative phenomenological research method to acquire a three-dimensional narrative inquiry, this study includes interaction, continuity, and situation, the results of the study can be utilized to identify specific themes and attitudes that are contributing to the attrition of exceptional student educators. The study was designed to utilize data collection through questionnaire survey. A qualitative phenomenological method was deemed appropriate for the present study. The method also affords researchers the opportunity to understand and present the lived experiences of the participants. An interview represents one of the most appealing and rewarding aspects for researchers conducting a qualitative phenomenological study in the social sciences because it puts researchers in a position of reporting the lived experiences of the participants; thus, the rationale for the study was based upon a three-dimensional narrative inquiry, which includes interaction, continuity, and situation. Interviews with subjects were accomplished with the use of a questionnaire survey. The approach follows the theoretical foundation of the study, the Intensification Thesis which was focused on problems of acquisitions and mergers of pharmaceutical companies. (Beena, 2000) Data Collection Research population can be defined as group members or a set of cases that the researcher is researching. Sampling can be described as the deliberate choice of number of peoples who represent a greater population (Bernard, 1995). The research population of the research is 60 women of age groups of three age groups, i.e. 60 – 69, 70 – 79 and 80 years or above. It has been difficult task to determine the sample size, in order to make the precise decision as some other factors must be considered. The nature of this research was such a factor. There were some Limitations such as money and time which influenced the selection of sample size. There have been 60 questionnaires distributed amongst all the subjects. The response rate was 86%. The Probability sampling' was used to conduct the research by using one of its types a purposive sampling'. Purposive sampling enabled to make the right judgment to select the case that was best enabled to answer the research questions and to meet research objectives. Purposive sampling is often used when the amount of samples are very small. With probability samples, each case has been selected from the population was known and it was usually equal for all cases. There was a possibility to answer the research questions and to achieve objectives that were required to estimate statistically the characteristics of the population from the sample. Self-administered questionnaire has been used as a data collection technique after defining the research problems and selecting the type of the research. It is the written list of the questioned in the questionnaire, the answers which have been recorded by the respondents. Questionnaires selected for this research were structured closed type in which the respondents had to choose one of the five options. Self-administered questionnaires helped to collect the accurate data. As the research was focusing on one organization, questionnaire was helpful in the collection of data very quickly. After getting the responses from the respondents, the numbers were calculated such as the number of respondents strongly agreed with the question, the number of respondents agreed with the questions, the number of respondents remained indifferent, the number of respondents said “YES”, and the number of respondents said “NO” with the question or to Some Extend. The percentages also were taken out one by one by considering the numbers in Analysis section. Apart from Questionnaire survey, Journals, periodicals, newspaper articles, magazines and e-zines are all of the sources that are used in the preparation of this report. The data collection stage is associated with a range of ethical issues. Research ethics refer to the appropriateness of your behavior in relation to the rights of those who become the subject of your work or are affected by the work. Chapter 4: Results and Analysis Results In this research study we tried to find the anthropometric analysis of elderly women of Perth and try to determine whether the demography has affected anthropometry of elderly women of Australia or not. In this research study we have compared the height, weight and BMI of elderly women of Perth and then compare it with other areas of Australia. The two most common and easily attained anthropometric measurements are weight and height. These two measures along with the Body Mass index are usually used to determine and demonstrate different health risks which are associated with underweight or overweight of a person (Rea, Gillen & Clarke, 1997). However, not much research has been done to determine the dietary and anthropometric relationship for elderly women. In Perth, as well as in other parts of Australia, the proportion of elderly in the general population continues to increase. People over age 65 now account for approximately 19% of the population, while they represented only 2 to 3% before the industrial revolution. Forecasts for 2050 are alarming. In this horizon, over a third of the population will be aged over 60 years, against one in five in 2000. Experts attribute this trend to improving the health status of older people rather than lengthening the duration of life or the decline in fertility and infant mortality, even if all these criteria are finally taken into account. Improving the health of older people is clearly visible, and is mainly reflected an increase of life expectancy at birth. This literature has proved that usual nutrition delay aging and prevents, or at least minimizes, the occurrence of pathologies associated with aging. However, some studies show that the prevalence of malnutrition is high enough in the elderly. Interest in nutrition seems a necessary step towards the promotion of health among this population group. The results of our questionnaire survey shows that the inadequacy of energy intake in 43% cases and the existence of deficiencies in micronutrients, especially vitamin C, folate, vitamin E and calcium. Given the need for such nutrients proper functioning of the body, this conclusion is alarming. Especially as respondents did not even realize that their power may not be sufficient or fairly balanced and even though 30% of them recognize a loss of appetite in recent months, and 20% agree on a diet, prescribed or not. Data Analysis The aim of the underlying research project is to determine the age differential expansion for age-specific determination of muscular strain and corresponding age-differentiated design and ergonomic customizing products to the changing skills, abilities and physiological needs, especially in old women. The research has analyzed the data to find the muscular stress of both static postures and dynamic movements in working. For this purpose a detailed knowledge is essential to the aging process with the associated changes of anthropometric measurements, biomechanical movement patterns and muscular changes can thus make the adjustment to the human body. The expansion and adaptation of the human model is based both on our own data collected as well as literary analytical analysis. Focus of the current paper is on significant analytical literature findings on age-related changes in anthropometric measures with respect to body composition and body movement (Baumgartner, 1995). Body, body movement and body forces are not constant during adulthood but undergo a natural aging process. Regarding older people are not really holding up, however, prior studies based on extensive anthropometric data. Thus, for example age-related movement restrictions are hardly investigated. In current data collections is limited. Initial studies were included where anthropometric measurements for a wider age range of people agree, however, age-related changes. The longer dimensions take off during the course of adulthood increase. Anthropometric measurements are an excellent indicator of the nutritional status of vulnerable groups and individuals (Forster & Gariballa, 2005). Anthropometry is used to evaluate and predict the performance, health and survival of individuals and reflects the economic well-being and social development of populations. This is something inexpensive and noninvasive in general nutritional status of a person or group of people. The analysis of data collected proved that demography do affect the height and weight of elderly people. The elderly women of Perth have comparatively higher height and weight and BMI as compared to women of rural areas (Dey et al., 1999). The data has proved that almost 35% of Perth elderly women are overweight and have higher height, weight and BMI while 0% of Perth elderly women are underweight. In Perth among people aged 65 and older, the prevalence of obesity was 18% for women. For this age group that obesity is more common in women. If the prevalence of obesity is slightly different between older women and men, this is not the case of overweight, with more than half of men over 65 have a BMI between 25 and 30 kg m2 while this is true of only 34% of women of this age (Keller & Ostbye, 2005). Note that, for both genders, overweight reached its maximum percentage in more than 65 years together and that overweight and obesity, more than 66.3% of men and 49.5% of women in this age have a BMI above the "normal" value defined by the WHO. Age plays an important role in the weight and BMI of people. Women aged over 80 are less likely to be obese than those aged 60 to 79 years (all variables being equal). This decrease in prevalence of obesity among women seems to correspond to changes in weight during life, increasing until the sixties, before declining for more than 60% of individuals Among the weaknesses due to the use of BMI, it must first be emphasized that it is possible to suffer from complications associated with obesity regardless of the value of BMI when fat accumulates in intra-visceral rather than the buttocks or hips. So it is not BMI itself is linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but the way body fat is distributed in the body. However, these risks appear to be better represented by the waist as BMI. Some other figures related to the variables and components which have been considered in the research are incorporated below: Table No. 3 can be found at the end of this document. Conclusion This report brings together existing information dietary and anthropometric analysis of elderly women of Perth and compares this with rest of the Australian women. It shows that the literature does not show a distinct link on the age and demography to anthropometric measurements. Various means exist to prevent or at least delay the onset of dependence of functional elderly but these means are not always suitable for complexities in old age. We undertook a comparison of distributions of weight, height and BMI from geographically elderly women populations. There are some common findings relating to patterns of weight and height by age and sex. However, these distributions differed widely by geographic region/ ethnic groups and by health status (Seidell & Visscher, 2000). Given the limitations of sample size and representativeness, the comparisons highlight the differences in height and BMI distributions by geographic region/ ethnic group and by age, as well as in the prevalence of underweight and overweight. Sources of these differences reflect multiple factors including the effects of genetic potential, early growth and nutritional status, differences in socio-economic status and health behaviors, biological changes in body composition that accompany ageing, the high prevalence of chronic diseases in old age, and differential loss in older samples due to mortality. If anthropometric data prove to be useful indicators of health in older people, then the systematic differences in the distributions across populations will have to be accounted for if standard cut-off points for screening, monitoring and evaluation purposes are being considered. References Adams, C. (2011). Anthropometry, Ergonomics, Web. October 19, 2011. ASCC. (2009). Ascc annual report., Stem Cell Center, Web. October 19, 2011. Baumgartner, R. N. (1995). Body composition in elderly persons: a critical review of needs and methods. Prog Food Nutr Sci, 17:223-260 Beena, P. L. (2000). An Analysis of Mergers in the Private Corporate Sector. Working Paper301, Kerala: Centre for Development Studies. Bernard, H. R. (1995). Research Methods in Anthropology. Second Edition. London: Sage Publications. Binns, Colin (2007) Body composition and anthropometry in Japanese and Australian Caucasian males and Japanese females, APCJN, Web. October 19, 2011. Branca, Francesco (2007) The challenge of obesityin the WHO European Region and the strategies for response, WHO, Web. October 19, 2011. Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Dey, D. K., Rothenberg, E., Sundh, V., Bosaeus, I., Steen, B. (1999). Height and body weight in the elderly. I. A 25 year longitudinal study of a population aged 70 to 95 years. Eur J Clin Nutr, 53:905-914. Forster, S. & Gariballa, S. (2005). Age as a determinant of nutritional status: a cross sectional study. Nutr J, 4:28 Government of Western Australia. Morbid Obesity Health Network. Health Networks, Web. October 22, 2011: Keller, H. H. & Ostbye, T. (2005). Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI change and mortality in community-dwelling seniors without dementia. J Nutr Health Aging, 9:316-320. Marcus, M. (2002). Effects of obesity on the quality of life. Endotext, Web. June 2, 2010. Mason, J. (1996) Qualitative Researching. London: Sage. Meng, Xingqiong, Kerr, Deborah, A., Kun, Zhu, Amanda, Devine, Vicky, Solah, Binns, Colin, W. & Prince, Richard, L. (2010). Calcium Intake in Elderly Australian Women Is Inadequate. Nutrients, 2, 1036-1043 NASA. (1978). Anthropometry for designers. (Vol. 1). Springfield: US Dept. of Commerce. Pope, C., & Mays, N. (2000). Qualitative research in health care. London: BMJ Books. Rea, I.M., Gillen, S. & Clarke, E. (1997). Anthropometric measurements from a cross-sectional survey of community dwelling subjects aged over 90 years of age. Eur J Clin Nutr, 51:102-106. Seale, C. (1999). Quality in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 5(4), 465-478. Seidell, J.C.& Visscher, T. L. S. (2000). Body weight and weight change and their health implications for elderly. Eur J Clin Nutr, 54:S33-S39. Table No. 1 “Government of Western Australia” Adults classification according to BMI Table No. 2 Table No. 3 Other Variables considered in Research Variable Mean±SD1 Min Max Age (years) 74.7±2.39 72.00 81.00 Weight (Kg) 67.65±12.14 44.70 104.40 Height (m) 1.58±0.05 1.45 1.70 BMI (m2/kg) 27.05±4.58 19.55 40.48 Waist (cm) 86.8±10.18 66.00 117.20 Hip (cm) 104.79±9.99 89.40 134.60 Triceps (mm) 22.77±6.43 13.10 36.30 Read More