Obesity and It Implications Among Rural Adult
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The primary objective of this study is to assess obesity and it implications among rural adult. Specifically the study is aimed at:
- Examining the level of obesity prevalence among rural adults
- Identifying the factors that influence overweight and obesity among rural adults
- Identifying the health risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among rural adults.
- Suggesting ways to prevent obesity among rural adults.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework and
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Concept of Obesity
Obesity is a multi-factorial disorder. Overweight or obesity is the leading cause of hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and various types of cancers in women like breast cancer and uterus cancer, menstrual disorder and infertility and many more diseases. Obesity is emerging as a serious problem throughout the world not only among adults, but also children, teenagers, and young adults. Of the factors contributing to obesity, stress seems to be particularly important as stress is a precursor for irregularity in diet, lack of exercise and addiction, each being considered independent factors leading to obesity (Mayoclinic 2009).
The problem of obesity is pertinent in both developing and developed nations alike. When a country achieves economic development, the diet and physical activity patterns of its citizens change greatly. This phenomenon, observed in developing countries, is known as “nutrition
Obesity is defined as an excess accumulation of fat in the human body by the World Health Organization. Body Mass Index (BMI) [BMI=weight/ (height) is the most widely used criterion to measure weight status and define overweight and obesity (WHO, 2000). Children grow constantly; thus, their BMI is adjusted for age and sex (e.g. standard deviation scores), according to reference data (Crawford, & Paden, 2006). In the past four decades, there has been an upward trend in the prevalence of childhood obesity. In 2015, the global prevalence was 5%, and 107.7 million children between the ages 2 and 19-years-old were estimated to have obesity worldwide. In addition, 38 million children under five years old had overweight or obesity in 2019 (UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) 2019). In Sweden, the prevalence of obesity among children at 6-yearsold is 5%, while it is twice as much among children who are 9-years-old (Policy Statement 2006). According to recent estimates, the obesity prevalence among school-aged children in Sweden has increased five times over the past three decades, with the steepest increase observed in the last 10 years.
Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance between energy consumed (too much) and energy expended (too little). Globally, there has been a shift in food consumption patterns whereby people are consuming more energy- dense foods (those high in sugars and fats); at the same time, they are engag- ing in significantly reduced physical activity. Using the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) cutoffs, adults with a body mass index (BMI; this is weight/height squared) of 25 or more are classified as overweight; those with a BMI of 30 or more are classified as obese. The terms overweight and obesity both identify people who are at risk for health problems from having too much body fat. For simplicity, this executive summary uses the term obesity to refer to both conditions.
The ticking time bomb of obesity has huge potential economic and health impacts, especially for the poor. As of 2016, an estimated 44 percent of adults (more than 2 billion) worldwide are overweight or obese, and over 70 percent of them live in low- or middle-income countries (Otinwa, 2009).
Over 70 percent of countries—the vast majority of which are low- and lower-middle-income countries—currently face a double burden: a high prevalence of both undernutrition and obesity. As per capita income increases, the burden of obesity shifts to the poor and to rural areas across low- and middle-income countries. Over 55 percent of the global rise in obesity is found in rural areas; in South East Asia, Latin America, Central Asia, and North Africa this increase is close to 80 or 90 percent of the recent shift. This has significantly closed the urban-rural gap in most regions except Sub-Saharan Africa. Today most of the countries in the world with high levels of the double burden are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, selected South East Asian countries (Indonesia being most prominent), and Guatemala.
This is a marked shift from the 1990s, when Mexico and most of Central America, Bolivia, Peru, South Africa, Francophone Africa, the Arab Republic of Egypt, parts of Central Asia, and the Philippines faced severe levels of the double burden.
In addition, in many low- and middle-income countries, for an array of genetic and epi-genetic reasons, populations are more susceptible to NCDs at BMI levels lower than 25 (overweight).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings into the assessment of obesity and its implications among rural adult. Respondents for this study were obtained from residents of Uyo Local Government in Akwa Ibom State. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was to examine obesity and it implications among rural adult. The study specifically was aimed at examining the level of obesity prevalence among rural adults, identifying the factors that influence overweight and obesity among rural adults, identifying the health risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among rural adults and suggesting ways to prevent obesity among rural adults.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 77 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are residents of Uyo Local Government in Akwa Ibom State.
Conclusions
Based on the findings of the study, the researcher concluded that;
- The factors that influence overweight and obesity among rural adults include;
- Hereditary,
- Pre natal and early life influences,
- Poor diet,
- Too litle physical activities and
- Stress and emotional distress.
- The level of obesity prevalence among rural adults is very high.
- The health risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among rural adultsincludes:
- Cardiovascular diseases,
The ways that can be used to prevent obesity among rural adults include:
- Engaging in daily aerobic activities,
- Eating plenty of dietary fibre,
- Consuming less processed and sugary foods and
- Consuming less fatty foods
Recommendations
Based on the responses obtained, the researcher recommended that;
- This study can equip stakeholders to make policies that will recognize and address the emerging challenges of childhood overweight and obesity in Nigeria in general during this period of Health Sector Reform.
- Because obesity, as well as their co-morbidities, will continue to increase the impact of a number of risk factors for adult diseases, it is reasonable and important to raise awareness and knowledge about the prevalence of these disorders in Nigeria, which is still grappling with the public health effects of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
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