Causes and Prevention of Obesity in College Students - Essay Example

Causes and Prevention of Obesity in College CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF OBESITY IN COLLEGE INTRODUCTIONBackground of the Problem Obesity has become a social problem that needs urgent addressing. The prevalence of obesity among children, teenagers, college students, and adults has increased tremendously in the recent past. Many researchers have focused on understanding the potential causes of obesity. It has become evident that the causes of obesity are complex because they form a combination of behavioral, biological, environmental, genetic, social, and cultural factors. This makes it difficult to outline a single leading cause of the soaring prevalence of obesity in many countries. Worth noting is the fact that the prevalence of obesity among children, teenagers, and young adults seems to be increasing at a faster rate. Many countries are seeking solutions and creating awareness on the fact that obesity is becoming an issue of national concern. There have been numerous studies focusing on obesity in children and teenagers as well as adults. In many of the studies, college students have been included in the adult group (Archer, 2013). Therefore, there are different factors that trigger the development of obesity among college students. These reasons are unique and are different from those increasing the susceptibility of other groups to obesity this necessitates a study, which focuses on the causes of obesity among college students and the potential solutions that can help them address the issue. This study seeks to understand the unique factors that contribute to increasing obesity rates among college students. Statement of the Problem Although previous researches have highlighted the potential causes of obesity, especially in children and teenagers, few of them have focused on college students. College students form a vulnerable group to the increasing rates of obesity. This is majorly because college students have a unique lifestyle, tastes, and prevalence, which may make them more vulnerable to developing obesity. Moreover, it is possible that factors that contribute to the increasing rates of obesity among college students are different from those associated with obesity in teenagers and children. Notably, college students are adults who can make their own decisions with minimal influence of others especially their parents (Beales & Kulick, 2013). Moreover, most of the college students stay away from home and have to make decisions about their diets and lifestyle. Moreover, they participate in a diverse range of activities that may make them either vulnerable to obesity or not. Therefore, this research will focus on analyzing the factors that make college students more vulnerable to obesity and the potential strategies that they can use in preventing the development of obesity. Research Questions This research will seek to address the following questions: What are the main factors that make college students vulnerable to developing obesity? How can college students prevent the development of obesity? Research Hypothesis The main hypothesis in this research will be: Poor diet choices are the leading contributing factors to the increasing rates of obesity among college students. Literature Review The clinical diagnosis of obesity has its basis on the Body Mass Index (BMI). The formula for calculating the Body Mass Index is as follows: The subjects weight in Kg BMI = The height in meters squared Individuals who have a BMI of 18 to 28 fall into the healthy category. However, a BMI of 25-30 qualifies one to be overweight. Obesity begins from a BMI of 30. There are individuals with serious cases of obesity who may even register a BMI of above 40. The BMI calculation is currently the only available scale used in the determination of obesity cases. It relies on the weight and height proportion as illustrated in the formula above. It is surprising that many college students are proving to be either overweight or obese. A close analysis reveals that the college environment presents students with an opportunity to lead different lifestyles from those of their family (Institute of Medicine, 2012). Moreover, many of the students are overwhelmed by the freedom presented by the college environment and indulge in a wide range of activities that define their diet or lifestyle. Researchers have highlighted that college students have the freedom to choose what they can eat. Unhealthy eating habits have been highlighted as the leading cause of obesity in all the age groups. College students are prone to poor eating habits because of the lifestyle they adopt in school. They are likely to rely on junk foods served in fast food restaurants where they frequent. Moreover, many college students consider the sizes of portions or calorific guidelines that define healthy eating. Therefore, they are likely to indulge in binge eating, consuming larger portions of food than is required by their bodies. Many college students do not have the time to prepare healthy meals for themselves. In the excitement of hanging out with friends, they are more likely to rely on snacks, which are high calorie foods. This means that there is a high possibility that some college students take more calories than their body metabolism can handle. The accumulation of the extra calories in the body eventually makes them overweight and obesity may result after sometimes. Food advertisements in the media are also a leading cause of obesity in children and teenagers. There is evidence that the media has adverse effects don college students. Many college students are technologically perceptive and interact with different forms of the media. This means that they are exposed to numerous food advertisements that may prompt them to engage in unhealthy eating. Some food advertisements have the potential of affecting college students psychologically. For example, food advertisements featuring celebrities who portray such food choices as a form of prestige may prompt college students to eat such foods in an effort to make a certain statement. The media also have the reverse effects on college students especially girls. This is because the media features an ideal body, which causes dissatisfaction in many girls who cannot attain such a body (Kern et al, 2014). This may trigger eating disorders or unhealthy eating patterns that may promote the development of obesity. College students also take low portions of fruit and vegetables, which define healthy eating. Unhealthy eating may also result among college students because they use their money sparingly. College students are excited about having fun, and hence are less likely to give healthy eating a priority. Therefore, they use most of their money on fun activities lacking enough for healthy foods. Lack of physical activity is also a cause of obesity. Many young people are adopting a sedentary lifestyle, which really involves activities that use a lot of energy. Many of the college students attend classes and go back to watch movies or listen to music. They do not indulge in rigorous physical activities, which can ensure that they burn the extra calories. Whereas a few college students attend the gym for regular exercise, many others take these facilities for granted and maintain an inactive lifestyle. In addition to their inactive lifestyle, they prefer, highly sweetened beverages and high calorie density foods. Unhealthy coupled with inactivity is one of the lifestyles lived by the college students, which contributes to an increase in weight (Kumanyika & Brownson, 2007). Poor sleeping patterns also contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity. The body utilizes sleep to replenish its hormone levels and ensure a proper balance. Many college students exhibit irregular sleeping patterns. They spend a lot of time with friends, out having fun or interacting with different forms of media. This denies them the opportunity to get enough sleep. Therefore, the body increases its hormone levels that trigger one’s appetite. At the same time, the body reduces its production of hormones that promote satiety. The resulting imbalance of the hormones prompts the students to eat more than the required calorific levels. Eventually, they are likely to develop the habit of overeating resulting in weight gain (Lifshitz & Lifshitz, 2014). Many college students prefer labor saving technologies. They are more likely to avoid the physical activities, especially if there is a machine likely to handle such roles. For example, many of them will choose to use a washing machine instead of the physical washing activity. The continuous use of the labor saving machines increases the level of inactivity placing them at a higher vulnerability of developing obesity. In addition, many of the college students rarely walks, and prefer to use automobiles. The automobile-oriented lifestyle is a contributing factor to the lack of physical activity (Naukkarinen et al, 2012). This explains why there is a soaring rate of obesity prevalence among college students. Genetic susceptibility is an additional factor that explains why some people are more prone to developing obesity than others are. The genetic makeup of an individual may place him or her at a disadvantage by increasing the vulnerability to obesity. The genetic makeup of an individual determines the body’s capacity to breakdown food effectively. Moreover, an individual’s gene determines whether physical exercise is effective in reducing the number of calories. However, genetic factors are ranked as secondary contributors to obesity. This is because individuals who are predisposed to obesity, but adopt a healthy lifestyle rarely develop obesity. This means that the effects of genetics on the development of obesity are minimal as long as an individual takes into consideration a healthy lifestyle (Shepherd, 2009). College students can prevent obesity by adopting a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular exercise. Healthy eating should involve the proper choice of foods with the required number of calories and remarkable portions of foods and vegetables. Avoiding snacks, fast foods, binge eating, and drinking are also aspects of preventing obesity. Adopting a regular exercising plan that ensures that college students burn extra calories is an effective strategy of preventing obesity. Other strategies may involve the regulation of food advertisements in an effort to minimize their effects on young adults prompting them to eat unhealthy foods (Tomer, 2011). Without doubt, individuals who adopt a healthy lifestyle, focusing on the right eating portions and choices of foods alongside regular exercise are at a lower risk of developing obesity. Proposed Methodology This research will adopt a mixed method approach, which will make use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Random sampling will be used to identify the college students who will form the participants in the research. Interview sessions will be used as the main data collection techniques in the qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews will be the most appropriate in the qualitative approach with the researchers focusing on understanding the leading contributors to the development of obesity in college students. The participants will be expected to describe their lifestyle and the approaches they use to prevent obesity. The quantitative approach will include the BMI calculations as well as a questionnaire utilizing the Likert scale, allowing the students to identify the leading causes of obesity. Five-point scale will be used with five signifying the most probable cause of obesity among college students. The questionnaire will consider factors such as unhealthy eating, inactive lifestyle, food advertisements, reliance on fast foods and snacks, and genetic factors. Students will rate, which of these contributing factors are more likely to trigger obesity in college students. The research will also focus on prevention strategies used by college students (Wright & Aronne, 2012). The interview sessions will seek to establish whether students indulge in any prevention strategies in an effort to avoid obesity. The questionnaire will feature healthy eating lifestyle habits such as healthy eating, regular exercise, monitoring ones weight, and awareness of the adverse effects of obesity. Students will be required to rate their participation in these healthy eating activities. Data Analysis The SPSS software will be of critical importance in analyzing the quantitative data. On the other hand, qualitative data analysis will involve coding and the identification of themes and framework evident in the collected data (Shepherd, 2009). Interpretation of the data will highlight the leading factors that contribute to obesity among college students and define strategies that college students can use to prevent obesity. Implications of the Study Data obtained from this research will be of critical importance in determining the leading causes of obesity in young adults especially those in colleges. It will help in the definition of prevention strategies that can address the issue of obesity. Without doubt, obesity is a renowned social problem, which needs urgent addressing. This research focuses on a highly vulnerable group of young adults in colleges who are more likely to participate in unhealthy eating and adopt a sedentary lifestyle (Archer, 2013). Therefore, the findings from the study are likely to help in the development of new strategies for addressing the obesity cases. References Archer, S. (2013). Beliefs about causes of obesity can affect weight. IDEA Fitness Journal, 10(9), 79. Beales III, J. H., & Kulick, R. (2013). Does Advertising on Television Cause Childhood Obesity? A Longitudinal Analysis. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 32(2), 185-194. Institute of Medicine, (. (U.S.). (2012). Measuring Progress in Obesity Prevention : Workshop Report. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Kern, E., Chan, N. L., Fleming, D. W., & Krieger, J. W. (2014). Declines in student obesity prevalence associated with a prevention initiative - king county, washington, 2012. MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 63(7), 155-157. Kumanyika, S. K., & Brownson, R. C. (2007). Handbook of obesity prevention. [electronic resource] : a resource for health professionals. New York : Springer, c2007. Lifshitz, F., & Lifshitz, J. Z. (2014). Globesity: the root causes of the obesity epidemic in the USA and now worldwide. Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews: PER, 12(1), 17-34. Naukkarinen, J., Rissanen, A., Kaprio, J., & Pietiläinen, K. H. (2012). Causes and consequences of obesity: the contribution of recent twin studies. International Journal of Obesity (2005), 36(8), 1017-1024. doi:10.1038/ijo.2011.192 Shepherd, A. (2009). Obesity: prevalence, causes and clinical consequences. Nursing Standard, 23(52), 51-57. Tomer, J. (2011). What Causes Obesity? And Why Has It Grown So Much?. Challenge (05775132), 54(4), 22-49. doi:10.2753/0577-5132540402 Wright, S., & Aronne, L. (2012). Causes of obesity. Abdominal Imaging, 37(5), 730-732. Read More