Research question and citations

Research question and citations
by
ADD YOUR NAME HERE
The University of Houston
NUTR XXXX
Kevin Haubrick PhD, RD, LD, FAND

Developing your research question:
Population/patient: Young adults, that is, college/university students (studying in final
year).
Intervention or exposure: Students with depressive symptoms and Body Mass Index
(BMI) in the overweight, obese or morbidly obese range.
Comparison: Students with no depression and Body Mass Index (BMI) in the healthy
weight range.
Outcome: Higher risk/participation in unhealthy, emotional eating practices.
Now put all of the main elements together and state your measurable research question:
 Do obesity and prevalence of depression contribute to emotional eating in
young adults studying in a University?
Proposed Hypothesis: University students who are obese and show signs of depression
are likely to engage in high levels of emotional eating.
Proposed Methodology: Thus, based on the hypothesis, the proposed research will be
experimental in nature. Participating students will be requested to provide their
demographic details as well as assessed in terms of their height and weight. Their levels
of emotional eating and depression will be assessed based on the responses obtained via
questionnaires like the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Self-Efficacy in
Emotion- and Stress- Related Eating of the Eating and Appraisal Due to Emotions and
Stress Questionnaire (EADES). Descriptive statistics, student’s t-test and correlation
coefficient will be used to assess the relationship between obesity (BMI), depression
scores and scores of emotional eating.
Inclusion/exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
 Young adults studying in university third//final year.
 Young adults preferably in the age group of 18 to 25 years.
 Free from any dietary intolerances or special dietary considerations.
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