Healthcare Management

Graduate Program
School: e-School of Health & Environmental Studies
Program Name: Masters of Science in Public Health:

Research Methods (Fall 2015) sec. 02
Assignment 3

Review of the lecture: Obesity

Submitted by: Iman Al Hadhrami
Learner ID: 200005487
Submitted to: Dr. Abeer Yasin
Submitted on: 17/September/2015
Dietary habits associated with obesity among adolescents in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Aim: The aim of this quantitative research study was to determine the association that exists between the dietary habits of Dubai adolescents as well as their
behavioral factors with instances of heightened risk of obesity within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Method: the study involved the statistical analysis of data
collected from a representative sample of 661 adolescents using SPSS (version 15) software. Of these adolescents, 324 were boys while the remaining 337 were girls.
These adolescents were aged between 12 -17 years whose selection entailed using a multistage stratified random sampling approach. These adolescents were divided into
two groups comprising of non-obese and obese whereby the obese children included those considered overweight and obese whereas the non-obese ones included those who
were of normal weight as well as those who were considered as underweight. Among the key questions used in the study were the experiences and perceived causes of
obesity as well as the key motives for seeking surgery. Results: the statistical analysis of the obtained data indicated that there were differential age differences
between boys and girls with the highest percentage of obesity among boys being observed among those aged 14 years representing 30.5% of those sampled. On the other
hand, the age prevalence for obesity among Dubai adolescents was at 13 years representing 35.4% of those sampled. Moreover, the results indicated a significant
association between the frequency of eating breakfast (P = 0.048), snacking between breakfast and lunch (P = 0.044), and obesity in girls but not in boys. Among those
sampled, there was a heightened risk of obesity among those who preferred to eat breakfast at school with statistical analysis results indicating boys had an odds
ratio (OR) of 3.0 at a confidence interval of (1.1-8.3). On the other hand, statistical analysis results indicated an OR of 3.4 at a CI of (1.6- 7.4). Moreover,
statistical analysis results indicated that consumption of fast foods was significantly associated with obesity amongst girls (P = 0.007), but not in boys (P = 0.745).
These outcomes may be underpinned by the fact that individuals in the feminine gender tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle that mainly due to cultural and religious
practices that exclude them from participating in physical activities. Conclusion: there is a need to formulate various interventions aimed at facilitating lifestyle
changes, healthy eating habits as well as promoting physical activity among adolescents.
Keywords: Diet, Obesity, adolescents, UAE, overweight, Dubai, Lifestyle
Experiences of obesity among Saudi Arabian women contemplating bariatric surgery: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
This qualitative study focused on the determination of the experiences and perceived biographical causes of obesity as well as their reasons for seeking surgical
intervention among Saudi women. The study was carried out using the IPA guidelines, using a convenience sample of seven Saudi women who were awaiting gastric surgery.
These women were aged 26-43 years and were classified as morbidly obese. Semi structured interview questions were used to collect data for analysis. Some of the
collected data was analyzed using content analysis with the results indicating that obesity acted to bring about experiences of physical restriction in carrying out
daily activities as well as impacted social relationships negatively. The participants indicated that there were both medical and social reasons for seeking gastric
surgery with control of diabetes being one of the medical reasons with effective fulfillment of gender roles as well as addressing a negative body image and associated
stigma being some of the social reasons. Others include social criticism and exclusion that resulted in self-isolation amongst morbidly obese women. These were
experienced from both close family members as well as members of the society in which they resided. Particularly, cultural practices that favored traditional eating
habits and patterns were found to underpin weight gain among women in Saudi Arabia both during adolescence and adulthood. These were coupled with what were considered
traditionally appropriate gender roles that in most cases led to challenges in trying to gain access to gender-appropriate physical activity facilities. The results of
this interpretative phenomenological qualitative study indicate that familial, cultural and biological factors influence on the experiences and perceived causes of
obesity, particularly among Saudi women. As such, various policies should be instituted with the objective of addressing the cultural restrictions that underpin the
heightened obesity among Saudi Arabian women.
Keywords: obesity, Saudi Arabian, cultural practices, adolescents, overweight.

References
Alqout, O., & Reynolds, F. (2014). Experiences of obesity among Saudi Arabian women contemplating bariatric surgery: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Journal of health psychology, 19(5), 664-677.
Bin Zaal, A. A., Musaiger, A. O., & D’Souza, R. (2009). Dietary habits associated with obesity among adolescents in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Nutr Hosp, 24(4), 437
-444.
TO GET YOUR ASSIGNMENTS DONE AT A CHEAPER PRICE,PLACE YOUR ORDER WITH US NOW