Masters of Science in Public Health: Healthcare Management

Graduate Program
School: e-School of Health & Environmental Studies

Research Methods (Fall 2015) sec. 02
Assignment 2

Research Design: Obesity in the UAE

Submitted by: Iman Al Hadhrami
Learner ID: 200005487
Submitted to: Dr. Abeer Yasin
Submitted on: 14/September/2015
Statement of Problem and Objective
Obesity over the years has become a major challenge in the UAE. Obesity refers to the abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health
(Foroughian, 2010). Nutrition plays a major role in determining whether an individual will be obese or maintain a healthy. Nutritionists use BMI (Body Mass Index) to
determine the obesity level of an individual. According to the World Health Organization an individual is defined as overweight if the BMI is equal to or more than 25
while one has obesity if the BMI is equal to or more than 30.
The UAE over the years has grown to be one of the most dynamic and vibrant economies in the Asian region and globally. Dubai being the main city has
experienced a growth in fast paced lifestyles with changes in social and lifestyle factors. The rise in restaurants, fast food outlets and shopping mall outlets has
resulted in people developing obesity and cardiovascular diseases. A study report has shown that the obesity rate in the UAE is double the world average (Rizvi, 2015)
thus a major issue that needs to be addressed.
Fast foods usually have high calorie contents which is composed of food ingredients that have more energy, total fat and added sugars that healthier foods
(Faust, 2012). The prevalence of fast foods, increased obesity levels in the UAE which results in other diseases is the main basis of this paper. The objective of this
paper is to look deeper into the causes of obesity in UAE.
Worldview of study
The worldview brought to this study is that of post positivism whereby science shows evidence of the obesity problem and gives a way of how it can be
controlled. Science and studies show that the excessive storage of fat in the body results from the chronic imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.
Genetic factors can contribute to obesity but that is not the case. Scientific views and facts show that the major contributor is the obesogenic environment where
individuals struggle against the catalysts of certain behaviors such as a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy energy-dense food consumption (Hills, King, & Bryne, 2007).
Implications of this worldview
Postpostivism is based on refutable scientific inferences. Science shows proof of why certain elements lead to certain outcomes. Studies use scientific
experiments to come up with hypothesis of certain matters. Postpostivism describes the context that the universe is deterministic. We come up with conclusions of the
cause and effect of a certain aspect (Creswell, 2013). Through manipulation and observation this view enables us to understand the causes of obesity and the effects
they have.
Type of design to be used
The study on obesity in UAE will be a qualitative research design. The selection of this design type is due to its broadness, exploratory nature and the fact
that it gives a whole picture. By using this design, we will be able to understand why obesity in the UAE is a major problem and what can be done to solve it.
Strategy of Inquiry
The strategy of inquiry to be used is grounded theory. It provides for the emergence of a story from existing factors which can be referred to(Research
Rundowns, 2015). The study will analyze various studies that focused on obesity in the UAE whereby facts will be noted to give a full detailed analysis of existing
situation. The grounded theory method of inquiry will be based on two aspects. The first will look at obesity among children and adolescents in the UAE. The second
will look at obesity in adults in the UAE.
Grounded theory shows that interpretations are derived from raw data. The study will fast focus on the broad topic of obesity worldwide and then move to gather
information that focuses on UAE specifically. The research questions to be derived will be: What are the causes and effects of obesity in UAE? This information gives a
clear picture of the study research design.
Research Methods to be used
The research methods to be used will be interviews and document analysis. Through analyzing interviews concerning obesity in the UAE, inferences will be
derived based on perspective thus it will be essential to get as much data as possible showing ideas, opinions and experiences. The second research method is document
analysis. This will be the majorly used method as it will involve content analysis of written data that includes: journal, reports and electronic media.
Significance and connection of the various aspects
Obesity in the UAE is the main topic. Poor nutrition contributes to obesity. The philosophical worldview of postpositivism is related to the qualitative
research design. Postpositivism is based on scientific evidence. The high number of fast food joints in UAE plays a major role in contributing to obesity in UAE.
Obesity results from the relationship it has with fast foods: unhealthy ingredients are used in fast foods, fast foods are low cost, fast and fast foods are convenient
(Pereira, 2005). Apart from poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity in UAE. By looking at these two scientific proven aspects that cause obesity,
a broad picture is drawn that is a feature of qualitative research design.
Qualitative research design is based on an in-depth view of existing information so that a certain aspect is well explained. The strategy of inquiry chosen is
grounded theory which is based on interpretations from derived raw data. Findings from a study confirm increased childhood obesity rates, the study focused on
anthropometric characteristics and obesity among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates. The study found that the levels of obesity in adolescents in UAE was higher
than those of Bahrain and Kuwait (Zaal, Brebner, Musaiger, & D’Souza, 2011). Furthermore, a Ministry of Health study carried in the last decade in the UAE showed that
there was a 33% increase in married women who were overweight and 38% were obese. 40.3% of married men were overweight and 15.8% obese (Anupa). In addition to that,
health and nutrition experts should raise awareness of the problem of obesity as it is three times greater in the UAE than the international standard. This contributes
to increased health complications that are particular to endocrine, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems (Al-Haddad, Little, & Abdul, 2005).
The research methods are interviews and document analysis. The above paragraph has shown the various data sources that enrich the study topic of obesity in
United Arab Emirates. These documents are broad in nature and show information that contributes to qualitative knowledge thus consistent to qualitative research
design.

References
Al-Haddad, F., Little, B., & Abdul, G. (2005). Childhood obesity in United Arab Emirates schoolchildren. American Journal of Human Biology, 72-79.
Anupa, P. M. (n.d.). Obesity ‘a big problem in UAE’. Gulf News. Retrieved from http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=25097
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.
Faust, A. (2012, August 20). A Weighty Concern: Obesity and Fast Food in Dubai. Pulitzer Center.
Foroughian, S. (2010). A Quantitative and qualitative study of lifestyle and obesity in Asian adolescents in New Zealand. New Zealand: University of Auckland.
Hills, A., King, N., & Bryne, N. (2007). Children, Obesity and Exercise. New York, USA: Routledge.
Pereira, M. A. (2005). Fast-food habits, weight gain and insulin resistance (the Cardia Study). The Lancet, 36-42.
Research Rundowns. (2015). Qualitative Research Design. Retrieved from Research Rundowns: https://researchrundowns.wordpress.com/qual/qualitative-research-design/
Rizvi, A. (2015, February 18). Special Report: Obesity rate in the UAE double the world average. The National. Retrieved from
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/special-report-obesity-rate-in-the-uae-double-the-world-average
Zaal, A. B., Brebner, J., Musaiger, A. O., & D’Souza, R. D. (2011). Anthropometric characteristics and obesity among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates. East
Mediterranean Health Journal, 382-386.
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