Health Promotion Article - Essay Example

Getting Young Men to Eat More Fruit and Vegetables: A Qualitative Investigation” “Getting Young Men to Eat More Fruit and Vegetables: A Qualitative Investigation” Research question Assess critically from the article, why do men not consume vegetables and fruits? The research question is appropriate since it ensures that the reader gets a preview of the reading. Research methodology According to Dumbrell & Mathai (2008) there was the selection of two age groups one between 18 to 25 years and the second group aged between 26 and 40 years. The researchers raised questions to the selected groups on the factors that influenced them to take fruits and vegetables. The first age group represents the younger age group which helps in the identification of the factors, while the second is the upper age group which also answers the same questions. Use of two age groups helps to make a comparison on the perception of each of the selected age groups on the consumption of vegetable and fruits. Use of questionnaires would help in asking relevant questions related to the consumption of fruits and vegetables; they would also act as a tool for recording the data from the correspondents. Identifying the prospective approaches to ensure that young men use more vegetables and fruits would also be carried out in the research. Analysis of data and information received by the researchers independently would be necessary to come up with the appropriate presumptions regarding to the consumption of vegetables and fruits (Baumeister & Bushman, 2011). Identification of key themes would follow to ensure that the research activity is systematic and help in removal of ambiguity for the readers. Interpretation of the identified themes would follow to come up with the final findings. Sampling The data collection process involves the use of samples to come up with the information to undergo manipulation. According to Hales (2011) the samples in use involve the younger age group made up of the age group of 18 years to 25 years. While the second sample, of young men is from 26 years to 40 years of age. The researchers then organize the two groups into a seven age-stratified group and put them into focus. Sampling ensures that all groups receive equal participation. In the research, the first sample helps give various explanations on their reasons of not consuming vegetables and fruits, the same criteria are in use, in the second sample. This ensure that there is a division in the opinions between the two samples since putting them together would lead to the provision of similar ideas. Sampling method is much efficient compared to use of observation research, since it gives allowance to get stratified data. There is the comparison of data collected to come up with the critical reasons, as to why young men do not consider regular consumption of vegetables and fruits. Stratified samples are dependent according to Vainio (2003) since the ideas of each sample vary though some of the information may be similar since the individuals in each sample live under similar environmental conditions. Use of samples in this research would also be necessary so as to ask many questions to the individuals, since using one sample would indicate that few questions gets considered to avoid monotony. Data analysis Considering that the data collection method was use of samples, the first sample group which constituted of younger men aged between 18 years and 25 years explained that they faced socio-cultural barriers. This was significant considering that, at this age there are many changes occurring within the younger age group in terms of the biological body changes leading to consciousness in the way they feed. This indicated that they were not into taking fruits and vegetables since the foods are not strong compared to other food stuffs as seen in the study work of Joint Fao/Who Codex Alimentarius Commission (2007). The older subgroup constitutes of the ages of 26 years to 40 years. According to the collected data, this age group explains that their consumption of fruits and vegetables varies according to their interests including male-oriented cooking events. This factor was an indicator that the older subgroup prefers to make food rather than using vegetables, according to the study work of Albala (2011) the older subgroup of young men prefer cooking food stuffs like meat rather than vegetables and prefer drinking fruit juice which has undergone refining rather than consuming natural fruits. Data collected indicates that the young men who undertook in the research activity were fervent to explore the methods required to promote consumption of fruits and vegetables. According to the information provided in the works of Snyder, Faass & Bull (2010) the young men indicated that they preferred using popular methods of cooking which were familiar to them including barbecuing. The information further indicates that the younger age group was willing to promote fast food outlets to sell fruits as part of their meals. 90 percent of the young men according to the co-author Mathai (2008) suggested that their reasons for not consuming fruits is because of cultural believes which indicate that fruit eating is not an element of young men’s culture. The data indicate that most young men suggest that vegetables and fruit get more appealing names so as to appeal. Efficient packaging of fruits and vegetables ensure that they have a compelling appeal. The young men who took part in the exercise, both in the younger age group and the upper age group claimed that use of unmodified textures and tastes made them dislike fruits and vegetables. Hence it would be necessary to modify the textures and tastes of fruits and also modify the textures of vegetables. The research work of Tofts & Horrox (2007) indicate that to improve the consumption of fruits and vegetables, the correspondence in the research stated that it would be appealing to shape the message around the theme of a woman getting appeal from a man through the presentation of food. The younger age group constituting of 18 years to 25 years claimed that they were more interested in the immediate benefits of fruits and vegetables. The findings in the study indicated that consumption of vegetables and fruits by the young generation resulted in enhancement of physical appearance and their facial appearance. According to the research work of Llewellyn (2006) there were suggestions that revamping and packaging of products to increase the appeal of young men would be through food industries since they were the beneficiaries. The study concluded that use of small and smartly designed consumer packs would undergo marketing through stores that were most convenient including stores in the workplaces, universities and sporting venues. This was because the stated places provided better locations where young men had easier access to fruits and vegetables. Collected data further indicated that young men fail to consume fruits and vegetables due to factors such as taste and satiety. The older age group further indicated that unreceptive consumption of foods and invisibility of health risks played a significant role in reducing the number of young men who consumed fruits and vegetables. Rigour The reading contains rigidity of subject matter since there was use of samples. Placing the young men in samples according to age, played a significant role in establishing the rigour in the research work, this is because, according to Saha (2001), direct confrontation with the young men who are the subject matter ensures that the information regarding to the consumption of fruits and vegetables is first hand. Rigidity in the data was as a result of using two samples whereby the data analyzed indicates that there was a comparison of the two data sets, that is, from the younger age group sample and the older age group sample constituting of young men. Rigour is evident since there is supporting information, where the reader uses numbers to compare the consumption of fruits and vegetables. To ensure firmness in the research activity, there is the use of questionnaires to fill in the various factors that hinder young men from eating fruits and vegetables. Further, questionnaires help to ask as many questions as possible. Considering that there are two samples, the researcher uses questionnaires to gather much information from the young men. The information and data collected helps to come up with conclusions on the hindrances and solutions to the various factors hindering the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Ethical issues To get the best from the research involving the use of samples, there is a need to demonstrate enviable ethical characteristics. Ethics may vary from conducting oneself during the research and in presenting the final data as seen in the work of Jongen (2002). Ethics to incorporate in a research work include use of polite language during interviewees which are characterise personal ethics. This will enable the correspondent to feel comfortable and give out the necessary information, this ethic is crucial especially when dealing with uncooperative correspondents in the samples. It is ethical for a researcher to ensure that they do not force information out of an individual; this may be through the use of incentives such as money so as to get information from an interviewee. Using incentives to get information from an individual is not just unethical but it is unprofessional Idgwell (1998). Correspondent to the research process may give wrong information so as to get the incentive on offer; this would corrupt the purpose of the research. According to Rosa, Alvarez-Parrilla & Gonzalez-Aguilar (2010) in case a researcher comes across an individual in the sample groups who tries to ask for incentives hence compromising the ethics of the researcher, it is vital to either report the person to the relevant authority or not consider getting the necessary information from them. In the research activity, ethical issues are in consideration, and the data got from the young men does not have any manipulation. Discussion Strengths and weaknesses of the article On the positive aspect, the article provides the various factors that hinder young men from consuming fruits and vegetable. These factors are educative since the readers of the article are able to adopt the solutions to be able to consume more fruits and vegetables and gain long term health benefits. The authors of the article did commendable work by first defining the hindrances including cultural issues and then stipulating the solutions to these problems. Use of samples to collect data according to Martineau & James (2008) strengthens the article since the readers are able to compare the points given by one sample group and make a comparison with other sample groups. On a negative thought, the article does not give the exact number of young people in each sample that got interviewed. Lack of actual numbers of individual in each sample makes leads to difficulties in making comparisons so as to get actual data relating to the topic under scrutiny. Conclusion From the research activity, according to Dumbrell & Mathai (2008) the young men who participated did not face any difficulties in engaging with vegetables and fruits as the topic of discussion. The participants had no dislike for fruits and vegetables but were frequently, unreceptive consumers, unlike women. From the research activity, there is a revelation that eating vegetables and fruits is not a part of young men’s culture which is a regularly cited barrier. From the study, it is evident that the young men who participated in the research study were cooperative since all the data collected was similar to the theoretical data. Ethics is in consideration during the research activity to ensure that there was no bias in the information. Use of samples was necessary in the research study. This is to ensure that there is diversity in the data collected. This is because young men vary in terms of age since there is a class ranging from 18 to 25 years and that from 26 years to 40 years. The various factors hindering the consumption of fruits were in consideration and solutions to the hindrances. Considering the research question which entails the critical evaluation of the reason why young men do not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, it is clear that the factors got stipulated and solutions to the headlines also stipulated, making the research activity admissible. References Albala, K. (2011). Food Cultures Of The World Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif, Greenwood. Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2011). Social psychology and human nature. Belmont, CA, Cengage Learning. Dumbrell, S & Mathai, D. (2008). Getting Young Men to Eat More Fruit and Vegetables: A Qualitative Investigation. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, vol.. 19, no. 3, pp. 216-221. Hales, D. R. (2011). An invitation to health: choosing to change. Idgwell, J. (1998). Fruit and vegetables. Des Plaines, Ill, Heinemann Library. Joint Fao/Who Codex Alimentarius Commission. (2007). Codex Alimentarius: fresh fruits and vegetables. Rome, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Jongen, W. M. F. (2002). Fruit and vegetable processing: improving quality. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press. Llewellyn, C. (2006). Eating fruit and vegetables. London, Evans. Martineau, S., & James, H. (2008). Fruit and vegetables. London, Franklin Watts. Rosa, L. A. D. L., Alvarez-Parrilla, E., & González-Aguilar, G. A. (2010). Fruit and vegetable phytochemicals: chemistry, nutritional value and stability. Ames, Iowa, Wiley-Blackwell. Saha, N. N. (2001). Fruit and vegetable juice therapy. New Delhi, India, B. Jain Publishers. Snyder, M., Faass, N., & Bull, L. N. (2010). The everything raw food recipe book. Avon, Mass, Adams Media. Tofts, H., & Horrox, R. (2007). I eat fruit! London, Zero to Ten. Vainio, H. (2003). IARC handbooks of cancer prevention, Volume 8, Fruit and vegetables. Lyon, IARC Press. Read More