The Relationship between Obesity and Diabetes - Essay Example

"The Relationship between Obesity and Diabetes" is an outstanding example of a paper on metabolic problems.
The relationship between obesity and diabetes is linked with an influence of the degree of obesity and body fat distribution in the human body. Thus, obesity stands out as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. An analysis of the article reveals several strengths in the statement of the problem and literature review although the same sections have got a few weaknesses. Despite the few structural shortcomings of the article, the results of the study are reliable and should be recommended for clinical nursing practice.

Introduction

Weight gain during adulthood, specifically abdominal obesity has been associated with increased diabetes risk. Obesity and physical inactivity are poor lifestyle choices that trigger type 2 diabetes. With this in mind, this essay critically analyzes an article by Youfa Wang, Eric Rimm, Meir Stampfer, Walter Willet and Frank Hu on the relationship between waist to hip ratio and type 2 diabetes. The article reports the findings of a prospective cohort study carried out on 27,270 men, regarding their abdominal adiposity and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The respondents were followed up for a period of over 13 years, with assessments being done periodically and compared to the baseline (Wang et al., 2005).

Statement of the Problem/Purpose

The problem statement has been combined with the literature review and comprises of just a couple of sentences in the opening paragraph of the introduction section. The authors did not get the reader to realize the exact problem that requires research and why. More information is required for the reader to understand the uniqueness of the research topic and also the reasons behind its urgency. However, it captures the purpose of the article though generally. It has also been cited adequately (eight sources). The reader gets the main purpose of the research, although the authors have not considered explaining the literature supporting their research.

Research Question and Hypothesis

The research question is lacking in the article, although it has been implied in the title. The hypothesis has also not been stated anywhere in the article. As a result, it is difficult for the reader to point them out explicitly. However, the research question and hypothesis have been suggested by the title, thus reducing the effect of the absence of these two on the validity of the research. A research question and hypothesis are important parts of scientific research, especially in the formulation of a methodology and also in statistical analysis. The results and discussion of the article provided information about the title and stated purpose of the research, for this reason, compensate for the absence of a research question or hypothesis.

Literature Review

The literature review is also very scanty. The authors combine the problem statement with the literature review thus reducing the lengths of both significantly. However, in the introduction section, the authors have touched important aspects of what a literature review should contain. They have pointed out several studies that give conflicting results regarding waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, as well as the associated risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. They also highlight the fact that the current cut-offs recommended by guidelines may be erroneous, based on the findings of their study, and cite several other studies supporting this claim.

Conclusion

Overall, the objectives of the research have been achieved, despite the structural flaws present in the article. However, due to the lack of a hypothesis or research question, it cannot be concluded whether the expectations of the researchers were met or not.