Exploring the Link Between Smoothies and Obesity: Research for Food and Nutrition

RESEARCH FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION 1
STUDENT NAME:
STUDENT ID:
TOPIC: RESEARCH FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION
DATE: 6-3-2019

RESEARCH FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION 2
Are smoothies responsible for the rise in obesity?
Literature review
Scientific exploration engages the study of nutrition that provides information regarding human
health and wellness. Maeda (2013) states that chronic diseases and degenerative conditions are
seen in people consuming nutritious food, which is one of the main reasons for obesity. Chronic
conditions predominantly exist due to some food and nutrition value that cannot be combined.
Dairy products included in smoothies are relatively responsible for causing chronic conditions
that give increase obesity when not measured. Obesity is a chronic disease that leads to excess
weight and it is reported that 80% of people who consume smoothies face obesity issues at least
once in their lifetime. Extensive research is carried out that demonstrates people consuming
smoothies that include ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. In the study,
illness’s and chronic conditions like obesity are measured in the sample population in developed
countries, followed by giving a detailed knowledge about the consumption of dairy products with
fruits and vegetables that lead to excessive weight issues and thus, obesity. The study evaluates
consumption of Green smoothies for several weeks while studying its effects on health-related
concerns like obesity and quality of life. Green smoothies are drinks that are blended with fruits,
leaf, and water. Qualitative research method is used that best evaluates the experiment with
volunteer participants to draw accurate results and observations. A randomized controlled trial
among 29 respondents is performed, who are volunteer participants for the experiment and
provided their experiences and knowledge about consumption of green smoothies and its effect
on health. The research method best suits the experiment as it has focused on the ethical
standards and is approved by Portland State University with PDXScholar, which further
improved the ethical stature of this study. The privacy screen panels were used that adhered the
study with effective skinfold measurement for the study. This is an important way that the study
is reflected while fulfilling the ethical guidelines. The data was collected with post-intervention
and also included physiologic and anthropometric measures that were further investigated in the
survey. Maeda (2013) argues that the trends were measured improvements in symptoms and
circumference of waist-to-hip ratio. Preventive methods were approached while consuming
green smoothies with a proportion of fruit and green leaf while consuming it weekly. Apparently,
Green smoothies help primarily prevent obesity and improve a healthy living. Health risks are

RESEARCH FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION 3
reduced with the reverse effect of consuming Green smoothies. The data was collected through
primary collection methods and was stored well that helped to take the research on the next level.
During data collection session, it was noted that the documents were stored with NAQs and data
sheets that reflects the data storage and security of information. The study reflects the detailed
knowledge of consuming green smoothies that are good for health and overweight condition.
Khan (2013) opines while analyzing the effect of obesity and focusing on better health condition
is the primary objective of the research. The scale of obesity that is measured is very high and
will increase in the near future. The review about policy and measures while controlling obesity
is the effective research that takes place with recommendations and changes that are needed to
reduce the level of obesity in the country. The report is prepared and is concerned with a raising
issue of obesity and weight gain during pregnancy. Excessive weight gain may lead to a greater
risk to the baby of being obese (Silveira et al 2014). The quantitative research method is
conducted and 41,000 respondents are selected to derive results from the study. The kids born to
mothers with 33 pounds or even more during the pregnancy are likely to be obese. The
promotional measures are taken that are addressed accordingly while considering public health
implications for controlling obesity. The research says that there are several factors that lead to
overweight condition and one among them is smoothies tend to increase the level of sugar intake
and impacts the health with the level of childhood obesity that leads to evidence addressed in the
report. Juices and smoothies are high in sugar and thereby pack on pounds for a pregnant women
that leads to excessive weight gain situation. The report contains the Body Mass Indices that has
shown an increase in the weight of children and raise the obese ranges while increasing the waist
circumferences. The findings are taken while focusing on preventing overweight conditions of
children and adults that is demonstrated with separate studies of levels of childhood obesity.
Khan (2013) states that the assessment is carried on the level of obesity that is observed while
focusing on several recommendations and initiatives for pregnant women to engage in healthy
consumption of food that has vitamins and minerals. The study is based on 41,000 pregnant
women who have faced issues of obesity and the concerned measures to be taken to reduce the
problem. The quantitative research method was conducted which provided reliable information
about BMI of pregnant women. The research method is selected according to the ethical
standards while the data is stored after analyzing its impact on the research. The research is
published in journal PLoS Medicine.

RESEARCH FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION 4
Adam & France (2007) opines that a meal replacement beverage that is smoothie was the
ultimate reason of weight gain. Consumption of shakes and drinks are the reason for increase in
sugar and obesity problems. The largest behavioral problem that the country faces is the burden
of disease and obesity levels that have increasingly led to a higher cost of health and nutrient
problem. There are discretionary food and beverages that lead to a higher intake of nutrient-
dense items and thereby result in overweight and obese conditions. The majority of people in the
United Kingdom have consumed fruits but the intake of dairy products leads to an increase in
sugar level and this gives rise to the condition of obesity. There are similar dietary issues that are
discretionary towards the identified approach of improvement in diet quality and consumption
pattern. The modest improvements should be made that appear to be sufficient result with
meaningful reductions in the diet-related diseases. The consumption of milk, fruit drinks and
beverages related with health problems. Obesity is one of the diseases that is associated with the
consumption of dairy products and the inclusion of a sugary diet. Smoothies are the blended
drinks that include multiple ingredients including fruits, vegetables, and milk. The accessibility
of the research tends to focus on the limitation of the data that is available and is stored with the
required information on smoothies and its consumption method. A qualitative research study was
undertaken that provided information about consuming smoothies and drinks. A total of 548
children were participants in the experiment. Food Frequency Questionnaire was conducted
among the participants to know the results. Adam & France (2007) explained that the situation
led to an increased level of consumption of sugar containing drinks with BMI Body Mass Index
follow up at 0.18/daily serving. The liquid consumption per day was 144 kcal which lead to a
body weight gain. The smoothie drink was likely accessible but the study demonstrated that the
content of sugar and the saturated fat that is used is excessively more than the benefits that are
received from raw fruits. The inclusion of the choice of fruits and vegetables is the major reason
for the overweight condition among children in the school (Lobstein & Brinsden 2014). The
contribution of smoothies and the total dietary intake was the major reason of obesity which was
frequently measured with common ingredients used in the drink while preparing smoothies.
Improvement in dietary quality is the recommendation that leads to a control of sugary ingredient
in the diet (Singh, Mulder & Twisk 2008). The study is ethical as the biological plausible
mechanism was established in the report with epidemiologic studies. The research focuses on
several research evidence while emphasizing short-term satiating power.