What Kind of Factors Likely to Lead to Obesity - Literature review Example

Factors likely to lead to obesity among 20 to 25 year old adults Name Institution Date Factors likely to lead to obesity among 20 to 25 year old adults Introduction Obesity is a health issue considered by medics to be exesssive accumulation of body fats posing a threat to the health of an individual. Factors that result to obesity must be conditions or features that encourage excessive accumulation of fats in the body. According to James et al (2001), when individuals take in more energy and spend less energy, the excess energy accumulates in the body and fails to balance resulting to overweight over a period of time. This can be controlled through healthy eating and positive balancing of energy intake and use. A number of the 20 to 25 year olds have been obese since childhood and transformed to adulthood in the same condition. Such conditions can be attributed to genetic obesity. The paper critically discusses factors that are likely to lead to obesity among the 20 to 25 year olds. The body mass index (BMI) can be used to define obesity conditions. This is the ratio given between a person’s weight and his height. The BMI classification can be illustrated as shown below: BMI (kg/m2) Classification 18.5 or less Underweight 18.5 to 24.99 Normal weight 25 to 29.99 Overweight 30 to 34.99 Obesity (class 1) 35 to 39.99 Obesity (class 2) 40 or greater Morbid obesity According to Young and Nestle (2002), types of food that people eat is a major cause of obesity. These foods include high calorie intensity foods that are prepackaged and availed at low costs. Inactive lifestyles are brought about by electronic equipment that reduce work don and simplify routine activities. Reduced physical activities as a result of using such devices contribute to obesity. Most countries are also making an effort to control obese conditions through implementation public policies such as Netherlands and England. Such policies control peoples’ behaviors and the environments that they live in including cultural, physical and social perspectives. These policies aim at such environment since health conditions are mostly known to be influences by people’s lifestyles and activities. This paper investigates the aspect of obesity among adults aged 20 to 25 years, factors that influence such conditions, their impact and how these factors can be minimized to reduce the increasing rates of obesity. Other categories within the age group that will be investigated in this paper are on the basis of gender. The paper will evaluate worldwide research on obesity especially the cases in Australia and their trends. Worldwide, countries with higher rates of obesity cases are Unites States, New Zealand and Australia. Background The study of obesity has indicated a rising importance in many countries, including Australia. The reason for studying factors which are likely to lead to obesity is because this health condition is claiming the lives of many people and reducing life expectancy throughout the world. Obesity is more rampant among adults aged between twenty to twenty five years. This is because; most factors that encourage obesity are experienced by adults in this age bracket. Identifying factors that cause the condition will also help people and experts in the medical field to identify ways of controlling or preventing it. A wide range of studies have been conducted to investigate obesity among children and older people. However, less has been investigated on factors causing obesity among adults aged 20 to 25 years. The need for this study can be supported by increasing rates of obesity worldwide. From a 2011 report by the centers for disease control and prevention, obesity cases among American adults increased in 2011 to 38% and out of the whole population of American children including adolescent between 2 to 19 years, 17% were also obese. In southern Australia, over 25% of children and more than 50% of adults are considered obese. The number is also expected to increase in the future according to research. This as a result is a great challenge to public health. Social, health and economic burdens are created as a result of increasing obesity rates in Australia. Streib (2007) states that Australia is the third country among the major countries considered to have high cases of obesity with 67.4 percent of its adult population being obese. According to a statistical data from a 2005 survey conducted by the National health department, 53.6 percent of the Australia’s population was overweight in 2005 with a body mass index (BMI) of over 25 kg/m2. More than 18 percent of this group was obese with a BMI of over 30 kg/m2. Other than adults, children in Australia and other countries are also susceptible to overweight and obese conditions which reduce their life expectancy. In Australia, the level of overweight cases has been stable at 23 percent to 24 percent among children below eighteen years and obesity rates being at 5 percent to 6 percent among the same age group. In America, it has been established as the greatest risk to people’s health (F as in fat, 2011). The report indicates that about 400,000 cases of death in the United States annually are attributed to obese health conditions. This results to a 122.9 billion dollar increased costs on the national economy as on obesity cases. Obesity is therefore not only an individual problem to those suffering from the condition, but the country at large. Serious obesity levels risk the lives of people either by contractive serious health issues or death. Statistics from the United States of America also indicate increasing rates of obesity among adults within 1980 to 2004. The obesity level trend among adults aged 20 to 25 years in the United States between 2004 and 2006 can be represented as shown below: 40 * 35 * * * * 30 * 25 * * 20 15 10 5 0 1999-2000 2001 – 2002 2003-2004 2005-2006 Women Men Between 2003 to 2004 and 2005 to 2006, the frequency in obesity levels for men changed ranging from 31.3 percent to 36.2 percent. That of women also increased from 36.1 percent in 2004 to 2005 to 41.2 percent in 2005 to 2006. Aims and objectives The aim of the study is to provide more information on obese conditions that will help individuals, family and nations have control of the conditions. An informed society will be in a better position to deal with situation at individual and society level unlike when they are less informed. Information provided will be on factors that result to obese conditions so as to regulate the case of increasing rates of obese individuals. The main objective of the study is to identify determinants of obesity among individuals aged 20 to 25 years in different countries and all genders. The audience in this case is 20 to 25 year old adults. This will be carried out through data collection and a limit will be drawn to capture only individuals within the specific age bracket. Objective two is to investigate what effects these factors and obesity have to the social, physical and economic situation of individuals and the country. Health conditions in general affect individuals, the society and the country at large in terms of financial expense, time and labor. Obesity is a worldwide health issue that comes along with effects which has raised a concern for most countries to research and implement preventive measures. Objective three is to provide reliable information which is accurate and can be used as future reference and by other studies. Obesity as a health condition cannot be controlled once, but requires constant controlling measures and plans to also reduce its impact. Like any other health condition, factors that result to obesity might will continue influencing the condition in the future unless if they are looked into. Another objective is examining if there are certain preventive measures associated with such factors that cause obesity. Obesity levels can only be controlled through preventive measures that will discourage the factors causing such conditions. According to Bhargava and Guthrie (2002), once a factor is identified as a determinant, ways of suppressing the determinant is derived in the same manner. The fourth objective is to identify trends in obese cases and those factors which cause obese conditions. Brennan (2006) states that, factors that affect obesity are also changing with time. Other than factors, the study aims to provide an expectation of how obesity rates might be in the future. This includes whether they are expected to increase, reduce or be constant in the foreseeable future. Literature review The research seeks to fill the gap in medical field and research on obesity. Although earlier researchers have developed studies in the medical field and about obesity, there is still a gap about factors that are likely to cause obesity. Most research has been conducted on obesity among children and other age groups but less has been done on factors likely to cause obesity among adults aged 20 to 25 years. WHO (2000) states that there are factors which influence energy imbalance in the body. According to Peter (2005), accumulation of calories in the body as a result of excessive intake of calories and less physical exercise causes imbalance of energy and further lead to overweight. In the case of weight loss, the calories consumed are less than those used. Although many researchers argue that genetic factors are the main determinants of obesity, this might not be the case since a population’s genetic structure does not change promptly. Non genetic factors are therefore the main causes of obesity. Causes Environment McCormack et al, (2004) notes that, the environment and communities that people habituate influence the decisions they make. Therefore, when people live in an environment or community with less alternatives for physical exercise and healthy engagements, they also tend to be limited in making choices and end up not making good decisions. School environment provides an opportunity for students and pupils too exercise since during breaks and physical activity lessons, students get a chance to participate in different activities which play a major role in losing weight. On the other hand, home environment with a lot of time spent on watching television allows energy to accumulate in the body and cause obesity. Adults aged 20 to 25 years are most likely to be in school or left school. Work environment for the working class might encourage or discourage physical activity and a lot of mental activity. In such occasions, this would encourage accumulation of excessive weight in the body. Environmental causes also include pollutants which cause difficult in digestion of lipids. Metabolism among slender people with obesity is likely to be interfered with as a result of gut flora. Alteration in the metabolic system interferes with energy utilization causing t to accumulate in the body. Energy accumulation in the body thus results to obesity to the victim (DiBaise et al, 2008). Genetics Obesity is also believed to be caused by genes from parents or family. In the works of Poirier (2006), the author illustrates that interaction between environmental factors together with genetic factors lead to obese conditions. Polymorphism explains how a group of different genes in the body can control a person’s appetite and influence metabolism of the body. These results to insufficient utilization of energy gained from food consumption and later on obesity. Genetic factors are identified to work effectively where the environment is also favorable. Individuals with fat mass and obesity associated (FTO gene) allele are more susceptible to obesity compared to individuals without the two genes. There is variability in number of people who have obesity as a result of genetic factors. Mutation of the DNA is also likely to cause obesity. A 20 to 25 year old adult is most likely to be obese in case both their parents have the same condition unlike those with one or none of the parents suffering from obesity. Loos and Bouchard (2008) also mentions diet issues as the cause of obesity can also be explained in terms of thrift gene hypothesis. The author states that people would be subjected to higher chances of contracting obesity where nutrition is scarce. This explains the human evolution period where individuals had to take advantage of times with plenty food supply to store enough energy and fats which could be used during periods of famine. However, the fat accumulation theory was also adapted by societies which had stable supplies of food. This is criticized to cause obesity among such societies. Inactive lifestyle Statistics from the United States of America also indicate increasing rates of obesity among adults within 1980 to 2004. . Helakorpi (1998) explains the aspects of inactiveness of people which result to obesity. The author states that with machines in place, physical activity and work load has been simplified and people have become more inactive. Adults between the age of 20 to 25 are the most affected lot since they are the technology generation and want work simplified for them to avoid straining. This in turn makes them most susceptible to obese conditions. He further states that more than 25% of individuals worldwide get enough exercise which could help to reduce levels of calories in the body. This is due to technology which discourages use of labor at home. Another author, Brownson (2005) also notes that people tend to spend less of their leisure time on exercising since physical activity is considered strenuous. He also notes that watching television contributes to 86% to obesity levels. 20 to 25 year old adults have been noted to spend most of their leisure time watching television and movies especially those ones with the television habit since childhood. The author explains how current lifestyle is dominated by fast foods with high fats contents. These foods target middle age group which includes 20 to 25 year olds. This group finds it easier to consume fast foods which have fats since they don’t need to cook but is ready when bought. Most of such foods are consumed in front of television a screen which makes it worse. Dietary Amount of calories intake has increased and indicate a rising trend especially among age group twenty to twenty five years. According to Block (2004), the amount of calories consumed by individuals through food bought is increasing as fast food joints increase since 1970s to late years in the 1990 decade. The author notes that, United States was the country with most cases of obesity as a result of diet issues. Individual statistics indicated a composition of approximately 3654 calories per individual. However, this increased in 2003 and daily calories content per person was 3754. The author states that, the issue of people’s calories content varies from one country to another depending on how developed it is, however, within the same age bracket, 20 to 25 year old adults. For instance in 1990, measurement of calories intake per person per day varied and increased in the order of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Europe. Sub-Saharan Africa is less developed and had about 2176 calorie intake per person, Asia recorded 2648 while Europe recorded a total of 3394. Methodology Theoretical framework The research considered secondary data of previous studies on obesity in Australia and other countries. Materials acquired are limited to the adult obesity between ages 20 to 25. Information sources considered range from 1990s but a most of them lie between 200 to date. Theoretical information acquired includes books and journal articles with findings of previous studies. Case studies are also of importance since they indicates results from the field of interest and recordings of actual occurrence. This information was only used to support findings from empirical studies. Data collection Data collection was conducted using survey techniques. Other than findings from previous study, information was also collected by means of observation, interviews and administration of questionnaires. Childhood character habits and genetic information was acquired through interviews and questionnaires while information on dietary issues, people’s lifestyles and their environments were acquired through observation and recording. Data collection also targeted individuals between 20 to 25 year old age bracket of male and female genders, social status, academic and income levels. Data was collected from people suffering from obesity, those with family members with such conditions and people who neither suffer from the obese condition nor have family members such conditions but have information on obesity. Texts and information were then analyzed on the basis of factors that are likely to cause obesity. This was for the purpose of answering the research question. Results and information acquired was then classified according to the different factors stated and supporting information on the same. Information about effects of the condition from participants and trends were also noted and predicted from the responses. This was in order to achieve the objectives of the study and its aim. Another category of information analyzed was data on adults within the age group of 20 to 25 years so as to maintain relevance and focus on the age group specified by the study. It also helps in conformity to the research topic and meeting the aim of the research. Some participants were reached through personal interactions so as to carry out some interviews and personal administration of questionnaires. However, other participants were contacted by means of online survey where questionnaires were sent online and through mails and interviews were conducted online and trough phone. Observation method for data collection took five months for the participants to be monitored and results recorded. This gave ample time to note habits of the participants. Filters and parameters involved both participants and research team. Data collection and analysis was to be limited to adults aged 20 to 25 years only. Participants were also to go on with their normal routines as usual. Only stated data collection methods were to be used. Ethical considerations were identified and observed by the research group. Participants were well informed of the research details and what was to be achieved before asking for their consent. Confidentiality was also ensured by signing the confidentiality forms and reasonable opening up to the participants. Participants were not coerced into being interviewed or revealing information, but were done voluntarily and willingly. Participants also committed themselves through signing to reveal the correct information which is true. As the project managers, I ensured that the research team was able to adhere to ethical provisions. Analysis and interpretation of data is through tabular representation and graphs. Causes of obesity were represented in a table together with methods through which they could be controlled and effects of such conditions. Conclusions From the study, a conclusion can be drawn about increasing obesity as a result of advancing technologies and invention of new machines that reduce workload. This explains why calories intake in countries which are developed is more compared to countries that are less developed due to lifestyle. Genetic factors, people’s environment and their decisions are also determinants of obesity among 20 to 25 year old adults. It can also be concluded that this age group is susceptible to high risks of obese conditions as compared to other age groups. This confirms the findings of previous researchers and authors about factors that are likely to cause obesity among adults aged 20 to 25 years. There is however, more to be researched about in the future regarding the challenges that people with the obese conditions experience including close friends and families. The study has failed to consider such challenges and gives a chance for more research on the same. Dissemination Findings will also be disseminated in terms of gender of participants and severity of the condition. Body mass index (BMI) will be attained from each individual and ratings basing on the same will be made. Problems There were challenges incurred during the research. One of them was on mailed questionnaires. Participants’ response from questionnaires which were mailed was not as expected. Less people responded (about 40% responded) and it affected the project to some extent since their response could also have helped in conclusion. Online survey was challenging due to availability and less assured confidentiality among participants. This affected the project in terms of the time resource and technological cost since more time was used trying to explain to participants and gain their confidence. This affected the project such that more time was used beyond time frame. However, more questionnaires were administered personally to compensate the ones that participants did not respond. Online surveys were few to save on the time and cost and instead, one-on-one interviews were highly utilized. Bibliography Books Kopelman, P.G., Caterson, I.D., Stock, M.J and Dietz, W,H. (2005). Clinical obesity in adults and children: In Adults and Children. Blackwell Publishing. pp. 319–326. United Nations. 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"Obesity and cardiovascular disease: pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect of weight loss". Biological journals Links Understanding obesity. Retrieved from http://www.obesityinamerica.org/understandingObesity/index.cfm Read More