Introduction
The
following assignment coined the concept of obesity and aimed to identify the
factors that influenced obesity among young adolescents in the UK. The
assignment uses 3 different kinds of journal articles Qualitative,
single-cohort and Randomised control trial studies to understand different
aspects and social and behavioural changes among young adults due to early
intervention of obesity. The essay presents a simple introduction to why the
assignment is being conducted followed by the background and rationale for
choosing this topic to address the issue of public health after the emergence
of the pandemic. Next, the study identifies the concept of literature review by
mentioning the type of data that is being collected to explain the strengths
and weaknesses of the three chosen articles. Next, the essay critically
appraises the articles concluding with a conclusion and recommendation to
highlight the main points.
Background
and Rationale
The
current study is focused on the literature review of the various articles which
will highlight the impact of a healthy diet on reduction of the obesity.
Furthermore, this review will compare various studies in order to reach certain
results regarding a healthy diet and obesity. Obesity is badly affecting health
and causing other diseases. Adults with high obesity are on the verge of risk which
is giving birth to other psychological and medical-related problems. To tackle
such types of issues, various experts have suggested different approaches for adolescents
who are facing overweight issues like use of the mobile health apps and healthy
eating lifestyle programs
(Obrosova, 2007).
Those who are not successful at reducing their obesity with the suggested
obesity reducing programs are proposed for higher-level stage interventions.
Nowadays mobile apps are being used at a higher level because of their low cost
and high availability on the internet and also because everyone possesses a smartphone.
Furthermore, mobiles help the easy track of the physical activity and calorie
intake. (Obrosova, 2007).
Secondly,
healthy eating programs are also vastly suggested by the experts because
studies have proved that a healthy diet helps in reducing obesity. Furthermore,
Motivation to change, self-efficacy, and self-esteem are also proven as
encouraging tools in the reduction of obesity and improving a healthy lifestyle
(Lee, 2013) Almost 7% of
the young people and children have obesity in the UK and over 1% of the
candidates were found to extreme obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of more
than 3 standard deviations above the mean of .2.
According
to Dr Lu Qi, It was also found that eating healthy food such as high
consumption of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, sugary drinks, and fried foods
reduces the risk of obesity and helps in weight loss ultimately, which results
in a healthy lifestyle. He further added that the effect is more evident in
those with a high tendency toward obesity. Qi said environmental and genetic factors
also drive obesity. Suppose the people in the surroundings are using the food
leading to obesity. In that case, they are encouraging others in the
surroundings because psychology says people mostly do the things that comply
with the other people. They are less likely to do things that are not
confirmed; hence, the use of fast foods in the surrounding and other related items
also encourages others to use those goods (Dr Lu Qi).
Furthermore,
various health-related weight management programs, such as Kurbo, are helping
the individuals by providing them with videos related to nutrition, physical
activity, and self-monitoring for improving their physical exercise and diet.
Various researches showed that people who used the Kurbo features successfully
lost weight. It was also demonstrated that Kurbo was more effective in the
early stages of the intervention than the people who had reached far more in
the obesity. At that stage, Kurbo was less likely effective. (Lee, 2013).
Methodology
In the literature review, the researcher uses existing
studies to debate a particular topic and adds a critical assessment that can
cover the area of the problem and present knowledge in writing to expand the
search material and content in a research (Chernyadyev et al., 2018). Some of
the most used literature reviews in studies are in the form of traditional or
narrative structures, systematic, meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. In the
literature review context, evaluating the quality and validity of the research
used is known as critical appraisal. Researchers use different essential
assessment tools so that the collected study is valid and authentic to use to
address the research statements and objectives. Similarly, the critical
appraisal of an article uses a systematic approach to identify the strengths
and weaknesses of the research to highlight the specific uses that other
researchers can use to strengthen findings on the topic.
Critical Appraising tools
Long, French and Brooks (2020) Add that critically evaluating
the reliability of the research to be used in other studies is referred to as
the critical appraisal tools used by the research to identify the relevancy of
the sources to determine any internal and external threats. The tools used in
essential appraisal are generalizability, validity, reliability etc. Avellar et
al. (2017) state that generalizability is also named external validity or
applicability that reaches out to target the effect of the studies on the
expected outcomes and the target population. The truth of the research makes it
authentic and straightforward to be used on a target population. According to Egami
and Hartman (2020), appraising the study's validity can make it easy to
identify the types of sources that are liable, and the data collected in each
study is assessed individually in different studies. Hence, to understand the
concept of careful studies, many researchers adopt the CASP tool to appraise
literary studies and articles critically.
Numerous studies are carried out all around the world every
day. Every study is based on a specific structure and method used to identify
different concepts in a study. In other words, a study design is defined as a
set of processes and procedures used to conduct research and analyse different
patterns using new patterns. As Haven and Van Grootel (2019) explained, two of
the most popular study designs used by researchers are either in the form of
qualitative or quantitative studies. Qualitative studies use a descriptive,
narrative type of study, whereas quantitative studies use correlational and
analytical studies to study different concepts. Moreover, it was also added
that in order to understand clinical concepts based on a worldwide health
issue, RCT studies are most suitable.
Randomised Controlled Trials
To start with, RCT studies are also known as Randomised
Controlled Trials. These studies are conducted to collect evidence-based
medical research as it highlights and respects the Good Clinical Practices
(GCP) (Elliott et al., 2017). RCT studies are known as highly qualitative
studies used to finance ideas on the impact of medical aid. The practised
research discusses that conducting such research allows the study to be awarded
more credibility as it benefits from examining any medical intervention or
treatment in a controlled way. Moreover, the practised study can measure
results more precisely to avoid biases. However, such studies are costly and
time-consuming as it challenges the researcher logically (Twisk et al., 2018).
Cohort Study (Prospective Observational Study)
Cohort
studies are generally clinical research studies studied to understand a
specific condition of any cause or treatment over some time (Munnangi and
Boktor, 2017). It is an observational study that compares the results of one
research with another group of people that are not affected by the condition.
As a significant advantage, the study can assess different outcomes related to
a single study exposure. However, these are rarely used to understand the
causes and treatments of rare diseases. Hence, the use of this study lowers the
chances of any bias.
Qualitative study
Qualitative research identifies different
phenomena to work out patterns and theories that can help solve complex
problems and answer questions in observational. However, it is essential to
know that such studies are most helpful to focus on the enhancement of the
studies. Mays and Pope (2020) found that the clinical researcher widely uses
qualitative research studies as it represents the perspective of participants
who are most likely to be patients to permit them to share their experience
about any medical condition they are going through. Using qualitative research
in studies is to modify and present different practices for clinical trials.
As best
preferred, the library database used to carry out this research uses Google
Scholar as a platform to collect the articles to match the topic question.
Google Scholar is a broad platform as it provides more than hundreds and
thousands of relevant articles. Google Scholar is one of the most useful ways
to improve the potential research by clinicians.
The PICO
tool is one of the most useful tools that focus on the clinical question that
can help in improving the specificity and conceptual clarity of the questions
to understand the information used in order to solve complex search strategies
and more precisely understand the results. The focus of the question is to
understand the issue faced by the patient or a population for further evidence.
The PICO tool for question comprises population, intervention, control and
outcomes. This strategy is mostly used by clinical researchers as it also
provides the facility to identify relevant information. To search for the
specific topic, the broadness of the topic is about the effects of obesity on
the health of young adolescents.
Hence, to
conduct a similar study, it is essential to understand the exclusion and
inclusion criteria. The researchers must find it essential to include the
protocols of the study with the help of the population. As defined by Munn et
al., (2020), the inclusion criteria are the characteristics that identify the
subjects that are chosen for the research. As an example, inclusion criteria
can include demographic, age, gender, race, ethnicity, educational background,
physical activities, previous medical conditions and psychological and
emotional conditions etc. whereas, Maher et al., (2022) described that
exclusion criteria are the ethical characteristics that prohibit the studies to
overcome practical issues related to the study itself.
Critical
Appraisal
Different
researches proved that a healthy diet was helpful to reduce obesity in
adolescents from 14 to 16 years. Journal of medical internet results conducted
the study on adolescents. To analyse and check the relationship between mobile apps
and obesity. Either it is efficient and helpful to reduce obesity. The Name of
this study is a cohort study on adolescents in which age bracket of 10 to 16
years and the BMI was 85th percentile and above (Lim et al., 2021).
To
check the obesity they used Body Mass Index (BMI) to check the effectiveness of
mobile apps for lowering the obesity. After the evaluation of 73. The
participants have selected 40 samples of the participants and the results show
that between 1 to 3 months of coaching practice there is no significant change
highlighted in the BMI. But after 3 to 6 months changes occurred. The findings show
that there is no change in BMI, but you should use this technique to overcome
obesity in the population of low income and diverse populations (Chew et al., 2021).
The second study was conducted by Thomas and
focused on a qualitative study to check what people say about healthy weight
and possible barriers to a healthy weight. In this study, 11 questions were
asked in-depth interviews to monitor the root cause of healthy weight (Thomas
and Irwin, 2009). How do people define what a healthy weight is? The
participants answered differently that physical activity enhances and maintains
body weight, family support is important to maintain body weight in terms of a healthy
diet and some people expressed psychological dimension in the result and few
participants perceived barriers to a healthy diet like overeating, the school
environment is unsupportive, bullying in the school and unhealthy diet is a
leading factor of obesity (Thomas and Irwin, 2009).
Another
study was published in the archives of diseases in childhood in the city of
England (London) in 2016. In this study, the focus was on how community-based
interventions will be helpful for the child (Wong et al., 2017). As adolescents
and another important focus are how weight management techniques will be
helpful for weight loss. This study is a randomised trial conducted by the medical
research council and the subjects were selected randomly and received either
help or promote care for more than 6 months. This study has conducted by a team
of a psychologist who is responsible for completing a 5 days training program
to change behaviour. The eligibility for this research is children of age 13 To
17 with a BMI of 98th percentile (Kinra et al., 2017). In this study,
different tests like the Rosenberg self-esteem scale were applied by the
psychologists as also done development and well-being assessment. This last
assessment is useful for 50% psychiatric level of diagnosis. The linear
regression scale is used to monitor BMI in terms of age and gender there are
510 participants’ who were total in number but 352 are eligible for screening.
And the results show no significant difference in the BMI and no significant
difference in psychological functioning, blood pressure, and glucose level
(Christie et al., 2017).
The table below presents the CASP
ratings of each article. As a result of these ratings, it was found that each
article was written in a different manner where some of the uncovered research
limitations include that the qualitative study was not enough to generalise and
represent the young youth that did not represent the entire population. As
compared to other literature, the research of Christie et al., (2017 ) declares
that the studies collected were unclear as there was a high risk of biased
responses from the children associated with programs for BMI.
Hence, with the help of the aims and
objectives of the research, it was found that the intervention prevents
interventions that are required to reduce adolescent obesity. As discussed, it
was also revealed that as obesity is a major health issue, it was found
necessary to contribute to the factors that come together to form strategies to
function for reducing the risk of dietary choices and healthy eating among
young children to reduce stress and other symptoms. As a result, it was
concluded that this can aid in reducing and preventing obesity.
Implications
for public health policy
As found, it was confirmed that the
changes in the social and environmental changes in the surrounding can have a
significant impact on the health of adults and young children. It was also
found that the public health practices and programs executed helped sustain the
public health environment and provide special support to those individuals that
are facing several behavioural and health issues due to lack of physical health
that can increase issues such as obesity, heart and breathing problems etc. as
a result, it was concluded that the lack of participation in physical
activities, dietary plans and quality of food can create unhealthy problems for
the youngsters. Hence, it is important to apply suitable public health policy
as a dataset to monitor the education patients and people receive regarding
obesity.
To shed light on a public health
policy, the CDC Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Legislation followed
in more than 50 US states and DC from 2001 and 2017 introduced different
programs that spread awareness among people with the help of professionals,
researchers and decision-makers to address chronic diseases spread through
obesity.
Conclusion
and Recommendations
After going through the key elements
of the 3 journal articles, it was found that it is important for professionals
and adults to spread awareness on the note of providing healthy nutrition and
dietary environment in homes, schools, workplaces and other settings. It was
concluded that the result of demotivating factors has increased risk chances
among young adults who are unable to lose weight. Some of the effecting factors
identified in the research of Thomas and Irwin (2009) are that family support,
a healthy diet, lack of time management and motivation to lose weight are among
one the factors that cause barriers to healthy physical activity management.
Hence, it was suggested by
participants that developing programs to spread awareness on the health issue
can be an effective approach to engage youngsters in activities that can
provide an educational overview of the activities that support weight loss and
tackling obesity. As discussed in the three articles, it was also suggested
that implying public health policies. Moreover, it was also revealed that
opportunities such as unstructured programs can allow young adults to promote
their experience of losing weight through online platforms such as Facebook,
Instagram and MySpace. This ensures that the children have high involvement in
intervening in their health progress and bringing behavioural changes in their
lifestyle.