What is Healthy Lifestyle among Young Adults of the United Kingdom - Case Study Example

? HR Researching in Business and Management: Individual Portfolio Outline Part Introduction Background of the Study Objective of the Study Significance of the Study Methodology a) Approach b) Method i. Interview Method ii. Document Review Method Findings Discussion References Appendix Part 2: Personal Development Plan Question 1 Question 2 CV Part 1: What is Healthy Lifestyle among Young Adults of United Kingdom and How Important is This for Them? Introduction Background of the Study According to Cross – Government Obesity Unit (2010), to have a healthy lifestyle means to integrate all the basic fundamentals like to consume the right amount of healthy food, to drink the appropriate level of intake of alcohol, and to exercise the suggested amounts of physical activity. As a matter of fact, Mintel (2005) suggested that when striving to have a healthy lifestyle, even the minor changes like increasing consumption levels of fruit and vegetables can indeed positively affect the lifestyle. By establishing a healthy way of life, people can live longer and better lives. As suggested by the National Health Service (2008: 9), unhealthy diet is clearly associated with poor health and premature death throughout the globe. Given this, it is clearly the case that there is a need for the population to highly consider their diet to avoid cardiovascular diseases, cancer and obesity. Adopting a healthy lifestyle clearly lowers the poor health and premature deaths. In terms of eating habits, men and women should consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day (NHS, 2008: 9). Unfortunately, the adults aged 16 – 24 years old are the least in meeting such recommended proportions of fruits and vegetables (NHS, 2008: 9). On the one hand, physical activity also lowers the risk of premature death (NHS, 2008: 8). It also lessens the possibility of having major chronic illnesses (NHS, 2008: 8). Likewise, engaging in physical activity increases the chances of independence in older age (NHS, 2008: 8). It improves as well the quality of life (NHS, 2008: 8). Meanwhile, alcohol consumption also impacts healthy lifestyle. Undeniably, the damage caused by alcohol is detrimental to health. However, most in England claimed to be occasional drinkers in which most of them exceed the recommended alcohol intake of only three to four units for men and two to three units for women (NHS, (NHS, 2008: 11). Healthy lifestyle is basically not just about the foods that people consume but must be combined with right amount of exercise, alcohol, and no smoking habits. It does not just improve and extend life but according to McDowell (2010: 70), healthy lifestyle includes enjoyment from the choices of lifestyle as well as overall well – being. Given this, it is without a doubt that to have a healthy lifestyle matters not only to the individual itself but to the whole society as a whole for the reason that such improves the quality of lives. Nonetheless, despite what a healthy lifestyle can offer people, the engagement to some behaviour that is considered dangerous for the health and well – being of citizens are observable in United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, taking a look at the young adult population of United Kingdom indicates some of their practices of the risky health behaviors such as their alcohol consumption, smoking habits and intakes of fatty and salty foods. Likewise, it is also the case that there has been a rising incidence of weight gain and obesity among young adults (Lake, Adamson, Craigie, Rugg-Gunn & Mathers, 2009: 157 -165). Certainly, such evidence the practices of risky health lifestyle among young adults. Objective of the Study In this regard, the focus of this paper mainly aims at investigating healthy lifestyle among the young adult population of United Kingdom. Specifically, it aims at answering three points. First, its objective is to know what is considered a healthy lifestyle among the younger adult population of United Kingdom. Second, it targets to understand how important healthy lifestyle is among them. Third, it aims to look at food as an element of lifestyle. Significance of the Study On the one hand, this study can be backed up by the growing incidence of unhealthy lifestyle practices among these people. With the conduct of this research investigation, basically, the lifestyle behaviours of younger adult population of United Kingdom can be understood. Such practices of unhealthy lifestyle must be taken into consideration because it can lead to more serious problems which are detrimental to health as people grow older. Understanding them can possibly give solutions to how healthy lifestyle can be promoted in this segment of population. Methodology a) Approach In this study, qualitative approach is employed. Lincoln (1995: 280) suggested that qualitative research usually refers to the collection and analysis of materials in which the aim of gathering such data is to uncover the meaning and understand the experience. This approach is applied in this research study for the reason that this is based on a position that endeavors to interpret, understand, as well as explain, the lifestyle behaviors of young adult population of United Kingdom. Moreover, through the use of qualitative paradigm, this research can yield rich information that can account for the lifestyle behaviors of the young adult population of United Kingdom. Basically, the reason for selecting the qualitative over the quantitative approach is due to time consideration. Qualitative approach is easier to employ given the short period of time to conduct this study. Despite the limitations of making generalizations in qualitative approach, multiple qualitative methods are used to complement each other method’s limitation. b) Method This research investigation is a two – phased research which both use qualitative methods. The first data gathering technique is the interview method while the other is document review method. i. Interview Method As a data gathering technique, interview method is chosen based on some ethical consideration. Given the time constraint, interview method is the most suitable technique to use. By means of lifestyle, the topic does not involve eating habits alone but the way of life in general. This means, respondents have to share and reveal their private lives as well. Given this, conducting an interview is the most appropriate technique since it gives more comprehensive, richer and deeper information. On the one hand, the gathered data are strictly confidential and are only used for the purpose of academic research. On the one hand, purposive sampling technique was used in this study. There were four respondents in this study. Two males and females from University of East London were interviewed. Their ages were varied but still belonged to a same age group, 18 – 24 years old. Their courses were different too to ensure the differences in their points of view regarding lifestyle. Prior to interview, they were asked to sign informed consent due to ethical considerations. Also, pseudonyms were used to conceal and protect the respondents’ identities. ii. Document Review Method After getting indications from the first phase, document review method was used. Basically, the reviewed documents werere collections of newspaper and magazine clippings that talk about foods in general. This is for the reason that food had emerged to be the common element lifestyle across the four interviews in the first phase. The data utilised for this study were a total of ten food and eating article clippings which had covered a wide – ranging issues. Each of the following clipping was distinct from each other. Findings This section presents the findings of the study which were obtained from qualitative methods. This first section represents the findings from interviews of respondents with regards to lifestyle. The second part shows the findings from the document review on the newspaper and magazine clippings of food and eating habits. Individual Lifestyle Stories a) May has her ideal weight for her height. For May, healthy lifestyle means eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. When further probed, she said that eating healthy food means one has to limit consumption of fatty foods and processed foods. When the importance of having a healthy lifestyle was asked, she initially answered that having a healthy lifestyle is really vital for each and every one because it improves the quality of live. According to May, eating the right foods would surely prevent unwanted diseases especially, diseases brought by obesity. Apart from avoiding diseases and illnesses, having a healthy lifestyle surely makes one feel better about himself or herself. Nonetheless, when asked on her lifestyle practices, she said that as a young adult, she usually goes to parties and drink alcoholic beverages. Occasionally, she smokes. She does not exercise. She lacks sleep most of the time. The only healthy practice she knows she has been doing is to have a diet of eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables and restrain eating high calorie foods. b) Annie, on the one hand, seems a little heavy for her ideal weight which makes her appear chubby. Having a healthy lifestyle for Annie means eating healthy foods and having the right exercise. She also sees healthy lifestyle as staying away from risky behaviours like alcohol consumption, smoking, and unprotected sex. For the most part, she believes that healthy lifestyle is very important to individuals because it prevents humans from getting sick. Aside from avoiding sickness, having a healthy lifestyle makes people happy about themselves. When asked about her lifestyle habits, she said that after school, she goes to the gym to exercise. However, she admits that due to the convenience, she is used to eating fast foods about almost four to six times a week. She occasionally drinks but never smokes. c) Chester appears to be physically fit. For him, healthy lifestyle means eating the appropriate foods like fish, fruits and vegetables and should have minimal intakes of fatty, oily and salty foods, engaging in a physical activity regularly like sports, and refrain from risky health behaviours like smoking and drinking. To have a healthy lifestyle is deemed significant because it makes one feel good about oneself. To know one is healthy avoids having health problems. Likewise, it lengthens life and makes one stronger. As someone engaged in sports, he said that exercise is really important to him. Likewise, he has to maintain a healthy diet to make him more fit and more active. He does not smoke though occasionally, he drinks even if it is not allowed as an athlete. However, he said that he is sometimes engaged in a risky behaviour of engaging to unprotected sex. He acknowledged that such practice may probably cause him infection. d) Ivan looks a little overweight for his height. Like the others, healthy lifestyle for him includes eating healthy foods and restraining from habits like smoking and drinking which are dangerous to health. He understood how important healthy lifestyle is to individuals because for him, aside from looking fit and healthy, it helps avoid diseases. Likewise, it prolongs life. However, when asked about his own lifestyle practices, he confessed that he knew the importance but that knowledge did not convert him to be one health conscious individual. He consumes heavy on junk foods available on fast foods. He usually drinks and smokes. He never exercises. He also engages in unprotected sex. Document Review The clippings were the following: ‘This Modern Life Minor Diners,’ ‘Teach Cooking to Tackle Obesity, Jamie Tells MPs,’ ‘Tim Hayward Traces a Radical Shift that Has Transformed the British Attitude to What We Eat,’ ‘Nigel’s Classic Hake with Green Sauce,’ ‘A Decade, Cut Crazy Food Waste, Says Boris,’ ‘Death of the Dining Room,’ ‘After Struggling for Four Years with the Eating Disorder: Jemima Owen Now 20,’ ‘ Turned to the Internet for Help,’ ‘Soul Food,’ and ‘Costa Eyes Global Growth as Coffee Defies Austerity Age.’ Going through the particularity of the set of data had enabled me to come up with the following themes such as obesity, fast foods and restaurants, anorexia nervosa, unhealthy foods and healthy foods. Further analysis and grouping of themes had facilitated me to categorise them into two (2) groups: (a) the emergence of fast foods and restaurants and the decline of the classic dining, and (b) the eating problems: obesity and anorexia nervosa. Discussion In this study on healthy lifestyle among young adult population of United Kingdom, basically, the findings suggest that individuals do recognise the basic elements contributing to a healthy lifestyle. The elements of healthy lifestyle mentioned in the interviews were consuming healthy foods, lesser intakes of alcoholic beverages, exercising, and engaging in protected sex. The healthy foods, lesser intakes of alcohol and participating in physical activity are supported by the Cross – Government Obesity Unit’s (2010) definition of healthy lifestyle. This only goes to show that the data from the four interviews indicates that these young adults are aware of what it means to have a healthy lifestyle. On the overall, these young adults recognise the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. As a point of fact, the respondents comprehend that a healthy lifestyle’s advantage is that it can improve and prolong life through preventing diseases and increasing the likelihood of independence in old age (NHS, 2008). However, despite their awareness of what a healthy lifestyle can cause positively among people, not all are practicing what healthy lifestyle is. For most of them, awareness of what healthy lifestyle is does not necessarily convert them to do healthy lifestyle. To have a healthy lifestyle has relevance in the lives of these young adult though in terms of practice, such is a least priority for most of them. Lastly, food is the most recognised element of healthy lifestyle. However, with the prevalence of fast food chains in the society, some young adults would just resort to the convenience of consuming these foods. Though it is unhealthy for the lifestyle, the classic dining where healthy foods are available has declined. Fast foods which are parts of the lifestyle of some young adults have contributed to their unhealthy diet. References: Cross-Government Obesity Unit. 2010. Healthy weight, healthy lives: Two years on. Department of Health. Lake, A.A., Adamson, A. J., Craigie, A. M., Rugg-Gunn, A. J. and Mathers, J. C. 2009. Tracking of dietary intake and factors associated with dietary change from early adolescence to adulthood: The ASH30 study. Obesity Factors, 3, pp. 157-165. Lincoln, Y. S. 1995. Emerging criteria for quality in qualitative and interpretative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 1, pp. 275 -289. McDowell, I. 2010. Measures of self-perceived wellbeing. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 69, pp. 69-79. Mintel Market Research. 2005. British lifestyles. National Health Service. 2008. Health survey for England 2007: Healthy lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, summary of key findings. The Health and Social Care Information Centre. Available through: The Information Centre National Health Service website [Accessed at 24 June 2012] Appendix: Part 2 Personal Development Plan Question 1: How and to what extent has studying for the degree been beneficial to you? Explain and justify your answer? Studying Career Management in Business has been exceptionally advantageous to me especially that I am currently working as a senior manager in Almayal Company. Basically, experience – wise, I can say that I have been immersed in the field of business. Nevertheless, this degree has helped me out in learning the concepts and techniques that are of significance to my own field. Initially, based from the flexible structure of the programme, I can say that I have learned to be flexible too in which flexibility of this sort is a vital element in adapting to the real corporate arena. Next, it has allowed me to develop my management skills better. In particular, I have learned to plan effectively, to establish a target goal, to solve problems, hence, it has enhanced my analytical skills on the overall. On the one hand, this course has taught me what it means to be working in a group of people. It is not just about having good communication skills and building rapport but this degree has instilled in me that as a manager, I am in the position to improve the performance of organisation through motivating people I work with to align their goals with the company’s objectives and for them to work at their very best. I am tasked not only to deal with issues, to resolve complaints, and to generate new ideas that can bring success to the institution, but as a manager, I am also in the position to help yield the success of the organisation through utilising my management skills which also include managing people I work with. Question 2: Explain what you intend to do after the degree in terms of work or further study and identify how you might transfer your academic skills to be effective in what you plan to do. Based from the academic knowledge I have gained from this degree, to establish a target goal is basically the first key step to be effective in whatever I do. That is because one has to be determined enough in achieving this objective. Along with that, I have this long term aspiration to be a top level manager. The learnings I have acquired from this course will mainly be my gear in attaining this ambition. As an aspiring top level manager, the academic learnings will enhance managerial position. I have learned that in whatever one does, to set clear objectives is important. From this initial step, to plan strategically must come next. In strategic planning, time, resources, advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and threats should also be taken into consideration. Nonetheless, this is not just the means to be an effective top level manager who will contribute significantly to the organisation. To be a manager means to manage the people he or she works with effectively as well. The success of my organisation is not possible if it is only me who will work for its success. It only goes to show that as a manager, I also have to inspire my people to work for the best interest of the company. Having a shared goal of organisational effectiveness, we, as a team, can perform at our very best to bring the success of the company. CV in Career Management in Business (Portfolio) Student Number: ……………….. Contact Details Residential Address: 9 North Werber Place, EH4 9HJ, London. Telephone Number: 07501910911 Email Id: abc@hotmail.com Career Objective My objective is to start my career with a reputed organisation as a business manager and contribute significantly to the growth of the organisation. I hope to provide benefits to the organisation by utilising my managerial skills to get the maximum outcome from my subordinates. I hope to grow with the organisation and utilise my management skills to bring maximum benefits to the organisation. Profile I am a second year business management student. I want to start my career with a reputed international organisation in the designation of a Business Manager. I am an industrious person with excellent communication skills. I possess good presentation skills as well. I have a strong grip over management concepts and have an analytical mind. I am proactive and always ready to take challenges. I have twelve months experience of working in various organisations. Academic Qualification Year College/University Course September 2009 - Present UEL B.Sc.(Hons) Business Management September 2005- May 2008 Basil Peterson College 2 Highers-A level (Maths, Computing) Wallace 4 GCSE at grade C, B and above Professional Experience Year Designation Job Responsibilities/Roles Company May 2009 - Present Senior Manager (Part Time) Providing feedback to the employees and advice them on various job related issues. Dealing with issues and resolving complaints. Generating innovative ideas and communicating them to the CEO and also advising him. Almayal Company for contracting, Saudi Arabia May 2007 – September 2007 Sales Advisor (Full Time) BMW MINI Group, Saudi Arabia. May 2009 – August 2009 Sales Advisor (Part Time) Advertising regarding the new opportunities of investing in real estate. Handling the tenants and landlords. Raed Yousef Tayeb Real Estate, Saudi Arabia. Computer Intellect • Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Outlook • Databases, Excel and Microsoft Access • Slightly acquainted with CAD and Oracle • Web designing Key Skills I am a hardworking person and always take the initiative to do things; a team player and a quick learner and can adapt myself to diverse environments. I have time management skills. Strengths I have extremely good interpersonal skills and have good verbal as well as written communication skills. I am good at presentations. I have good conceptual and analytical skills. I am a quick learner and have natural leadership skills. I am a self starter. I perform well individually as well as in a team. I have the capability to acclimatise myself to all kinds of situations and environments. Weakness My weakness is that at times I go out of my way to help my colleagues and team mates. I am a perfectionist. At times I am myself not satisfied with the work that I do and continuously strive to improve on the task assigned. Interests Travelling: I am extremely fond of travelling and visiting new countries and cities. I have been fortunate to experience various cultures which have enhanced my knowledge. I specially like visiting Europe and USA. Sport: I have special interest in sports. I am fond of playing football, basketball, golf and horse riding (Polo). References Name of the Company Contact Person Contact Number Almayal Company Mr. Ahmed 96626962100 Read More