A Report on Health Promotion and Public Health: Obesity Interventions

This report delves into the critical public health issue of obesity, examining its causes, prevalence, and potential intervention strategies, particularly in the UK. It utilizes secondary data analysis from various articles, employing the PICO framework, Boolean operators, and CASP to select relevant studies. The report identifies key emerging themes related to obesity's impact, including smoking behavior, sugary food consumption, and the effectiveness of community-based prevention programs. It further provides recommendations based on the selected articles, emphasizing the importance of public health interventions, healthy diets, physical activity, and reducing risk factors like smoking and excessive sugar intake to improve overall health and living standards. This study underscores the need for targeted strategies to address obesity and its associated health problems, ultimately aiming to enhance life expectancy and quality of life.

Health Promotion Public Health
Obesity
1

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE....................................................................3
Importance and reason of selecting health obesity problem........................................................3
CHAPTER 2 METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................5
Chosen library database...............................................................................................................5
PICO framework..........................................................................................................................6
Keywords.....................................................................................................................................6
Boolean operators........................................................................................................................6
Use of truncation..........................................................................................................................6
CASP...........................................................................................................................................7
Inclusion/exclusion criteria of articles.........................................................................................7
Ethical consideration...................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 3: RESULTS.................................................................................................................7
Secondary data analysis...............................................................................................................7
Appraising literature....................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 5: EMERGING THEMES............................................................................................9
Key emerging themes..................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 6: RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION...................................................10
Recommendations on the basis of selected articles...................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
2

.
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a complex disease as it increases the risk of other health problems. When an
individual is overweight and has an excessive amount of body fat then it is considered as obesity
(Chooi, Ding and Magkos, 2019). This present study is going to discuss causing factors of
obesity and reasons as why UK is suffering the most from this obesity. The main reason of
selecting this topic is to prevent children from being overweight by making them aware about
importance of being healthy and having nutritional values of diet. This study will discuss some
ways and intervention by which people can protect them from this disease. This study has wide
scope at all level and it will help out general people in improving their health. It will increase life
expectancy and living standard of people as well.
So, on the basis of this, it can be said that this study will help out people all over the world
in improving their health and preventing themselves against other associated health problems.
Further, this study will discuss ways of selecting accurate and reliable articles for collecting
secondary data. Inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as Boolean words help out researcher in
selecting relevant articles and accomplishing the main aim of conducting research study. It will
discuss some factors that need to be considered for making research study ethical. Some factors
that this study will discuss in a detailed manner is: reliability of selected articles, selecting
participants randomly, maintaining confidentiality and others.
CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE
Importance and reason of selecting health obesity problem
In regard to this selected disease, it can be said that it is a grave public health threat and serious
than opioid epidemic. It is believed that overweight and an excessive body mass can lead to other
chronic disease such as: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular
disease and cancer. In addition, it is also found fro secondary data and literature that it has
substantial economic losses to the great extent.
3

Figure 1: Obesity Statistics
Sources: (Yates and et.al., 2021)
On the basis of above graph, it can clearly be said that around 3 quarter or around 60-70% of
people age group of 45-74 in England are overweight and obese. It shows that we all need to take
care of our self and need to focus on this problem otherwise; it may lead other health problems.
It is also found from survey that men as compared to women are more likely to overweight and
obese. People between the ages of 45-74 have more chances to become overweight and obese.
One of the main reasons behind it is lack of physical exercise and lack of participation in social
activities. People of high deprived area have more chances to become overweight and obese as
well. In the context of childhood obesity, it is found that children of age group of 4-5 are 9.9%
obese and 10-11 years of children, 21% are obese. Children of deprived area have more chances
to be obese and overweight. The main reason of this is: lack of access to public and essential
services (Scheelbeek and et.al., 2019). People of this area are not well-educated and find
difficulties in fostering their family. They do not have knowledge as how to improve health and
how to be fit and healthy. Due to lack of knowledge and lack of access to public services, they
become obese as they do not have nutritional values of diet and physical exercise. Some
common causing factors have also been known that leads obesity and risk of cardiovascular
disease such as: eating large amount of fast food, drinking too much alcohol, eating larger
portion than actual capacity and drinking sugary drinks. Along with this, lack of physical activity
and spending a lot of time in smart phones, computer games and online learning has also
increased chances of obesity. Children have forgotten to play outdoor games and this is
4

increasing chances of being obese and overweight as well. Along with these main common
reasons, medical reasons and genetic reasons such as underactive thyroid gland in some cases
also lead this health problem.
In the year of 2019, around 64% of adults in England were overweight with 28% being
obese and 3% morbidity obese. In the most deprived communities in England, this disease or
health problem is increasing and having negative impact on health of people. Obesity is one of
the main risk factor of cardiovascular disease. So, on the basis of this, it can be said that this is
dangerous health issue that need to be decreased and mitigated in a timely manner otherwise, it
may affect life expectancy and living standard of people (Reilly and et.al., 2018). For preventing
people and educated people of deprived area is one of the main reasons of selecting this topic.
This study will help them out in understanding importance of having healthy diet, avoiding fast
food, avoiding alcohol and increasing engagement in physical as well as social activities. By
knowing better ways, people of 45-74 can prevent themselves from being obese and can enjoy
healthy living.
CHAPTER 2 METHODOLOGY
Chosen library database
A full text data base has been selected for searching relevant articles. Some effective database
that have been used for this study include: PubMed, medicine, Google scholar and web of
science. 6 articles that have been selected in this study are:
Article 1: Role of Obesity in smoking behaviour Mendelian randomisation study in UK
Biobank
In this article, relationship of smoking behaviour on obesity has been discussed.
Article 2: Potential impact on prevalence of obesity in the UK of a 20% price increase in high
sugar snacks
In this article, relationship of price increase in high sugar snacks and sugary drinks have been
discussed with obesity.
Article 3: Participant engagement with a UK community based preschool childhood obesity
prevention program
This article has shown effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention program in decreasing
obesity.
Article 4: The public health impact of obesity
5

Common impact of obesity on overall health of people has been discussed in this study.
Article 5: Ultra-processed food consumption and indicators of obesity in the United Kingdom
It has shown relationship of increasing food consumption with obesity.
Article 6: Impact of public health interventions on obesity and type 2 diabetes prevention
It has discussed some public health interventions that can decrease chances of obesity and
type 2 diabetes.
PICO framework
Population and problem: Problem that has been selected for this study and in articles include:
obesity
Intervention: Common interventions that have been selected in articles include: conducting
interview for knowing impacts of nutritional values of diet and physical activity in decreasing
obesity.
Comparison: People who smoke daily and consume sugary foods were compared with those
who do not smoke and does not have sugary drinks to the great extent. Other comparison was
being done between people live in deprived area and people live in non-deprived area.
Outcome: Decreasing prevalence of obesity all over the world, increasing living standard and
educating people about having healthy diet were some main outcomes.
Keywords
Some common keywords that have been used in selecting articles relevant to obesity include:
obesity, prevalence, smoking trends, alcohol consumption, and prevention program, causing
factors of obesity, risk factor of obesity, strategies to decrease obesity and others.
Boolean operators
And Or, not or and not some truncation has been used in selecting articles such as:
identifying prevention program and strategies to decrease obesity.
To discuss as whether sugary drinks can lead obesity or not. It helped us out in
accomplishing goals in an effective manner and knowing causing factors of obesity.
Use of truncation
Truncation is the process shortening something. Short words and sentences make
researcher able in making study relevant and effective. Readers prefer to read and review those
studies in which researcher have used short and appropriate sentences. Truncation that have been
6

used in this study include: causing factor of obesity, prevention program and obesity, risk factor
of obesity, prevalence of obesity and others.
CASP
Total articles (N): 50
Excluded: 15
Reviewed: 30
Included: 6
Inclusion/exclusion criteria of articles
Inclusion criteria: key words relevant to obesity, articles that have published within 5 years and
articles in which English language has been used.
Exclusion; Articles that have been published before 2016, articles in which English language has
not been used and articles that are not relevant to obesity.
Ethical consideration
This study has been conducted in an ethical manner as all articles that selected was relevant
to obesity and were published in 2017-2021.Participants were selected as per the relevancy of
health disease.
CHAPTER 3: RESULTS
Secondary data analysis
Article 1: Role of Obesity in smoking behaviour Mendelian randomisation study in UK
Biobank
As the main aim of conducting this literature was to know whether body mass index and
body fat % influence smoking status. In regard to this article, it can be said that tobacco smoking
and obesity are important risk factors for non-communicable disease. There is relationship
between cigarette smoking and body weight. Studies that have been conducted in this article, it is
found that smokers have higher waist circumference than those who never smoked. Some other
factors that are also associated with obesity and overweight include: unhealthy diet, physical
inactivity and alcohol consumption. US Biobank is a prospective cohort that recruited more than
7

500000 men and women of 40-96 years for knowing impact of their lifestyle on obesity
(Carreras-Torres and et.al., 2018). Overall, it can be said that people who smoke on daily basis
have high chance to become obese and overweight as well. So, on the basis of this, it can be said
that prevention program should focus on this factor and should encourage people to quit smoking
by which they can improve their overall health and can increase their living standard.
Article 2: Potential impact on prevalence of obesity in the UK of a 20% price increase in high
sugar snacks
The main aim of conducting this research study was preventing people from being obese
and overweight. For preventing people, it is important to identify causing factors as on the basis
of causing factors, strategies can be developed. This article was selected for knowing impact of
having sugary drinks and snacks on obesity. This article has helped us out in knowing as whether
by having sugary snacks, people have more chances of being obese or not. Prices chances on
sugary items such as: biscuits, cakes and chocolates (Scheelbeek and et.al., 2019). It was found
that increase cost on these sugary items has decreased chances of being obese and overweight as
people started buying such products to only some extent. As they started investing less and
having few sugary products. So, on the basis of this, it can clearly be said that people who have
more sugary items and drinks are more likely to become obese as compared to those who does
not have sugary food and drinks.
Article 3: Participant engagement with a UK community based preschool childhood obesity
prevention program
In this focused ethnography study, 22 interviews with staff, 6 focus group tool place in
order to identify best strategies by which children of UK can be prevented from being obese and
overweight. Children’s centre in UK plays a vital role in improving overall health of children and
supporting public health initiatives. Around 1/5 of children in the UK start school overweight. It
is believed that by educating children of 0-5 age, people with above age group can also be
prevented from this health issue (Burton and et.al., 2019.). When children of 0-5 age understand
ways of being fit then they teach their parents and it can lead overall improved health in society.
Some main focus in this prevention program was: exercise, health and nutrition. Children were
made aware about physical activities and nutrition as how nutritional values of food can increase
their immune and can make them healthy and fit. Data analysis was also being done with the
main aim of identifying factors that can influence participation engagement. Overall, it can be
8

said that educating children and participating them in prevention program is one of the best way
of decreasing obesity rate.
CHAPTER 4: CRITICAL APPRAISAL
Appraising literature
In regard to selected articles, I can say that all articles were reviewed in a critical manner. Some
ways by which we have analysed articles in a critical manner and selected them include:
 Relevance of study questions on the main research topic
 Key terms, used in articles such as: obesity, prevalence, causing factors, smoking trends,
alcohol consumption and others.
 Validity and reliability were known by selecting articles of 5 years older only.
Critical appraisal of literature makes us able in separating what is significant from what is
not. Selecting of relevant articles is one of the main key of gathering relevant secondary data and
accomplishing goals of research study (Donini and et.al., 2020). Some other ways that helped us
out in critically appraising literature and gathering secondary data include: knowing as selected
methodology address important potential sources of bias. PICO framework was also being used
in this study as it helped us out in knowing the main population relevant to health disease,
interventions for preventing people from public health issue and outcomes that people can get by
making use of selected interventions and strategies as well (Tamar and Tahapary, 2020). In
selected articles, researcher has tested hypothesis and on the basis of this test, they have
accomplished the main aim and objectives as well.
CHAPTER 5: EMERGING THEMES
Key emerging themes
As the main aim of conducting this study and selecting articles was to identify obesity on
health of people. Some key themes that have been selected from all 6 selected articles that have
helped out in accomplishing the aim and objectives. Some key themes that have been selected for
this study include: Prevalence of obesity in the UK, impact of smoking trends on obesity, impact
of increasing sugary items on obesity and participant engagement with a UK community based
preschool childhood obesity prevention program (Lavie, Ortega and Kokkinos, 2018). All these
themes have helped out in knowing causing factors of obesity, preventive program and ways of
educating children for improving overall health and living standard as well. All these themes also
9

helped out in knowing better ways of preventing from obesity and overweight such as engaging
in physical activity, having nutritional values of diet and decreasing alcohol and smoking. On the
basis of these themes, it can be said that it can help out general people especially to 45-74 in
decreasing prevalence of smoking.
CHAPTER 6: RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
Recommendations on the basis of selected articles
It can b recommended to researchers that he should have selected articles that are based on
identifying strategies of preventing obesity among people of 45-74. As it is found that people of
this age group are more likely to be obese and articles that have been selected, have shown
importance of physical activities for decreasing obesity in children. In addition, it can also be
suggested to researcher that he should have selected articles in which current world wide data
related to obesity has been discussed. In addition, it can be suggested to tutors and community
health care providers that they should develop educational programs by which they can educate
and increase knowledge among children regarding ways of preventing from obesity (Jastreboff
and et.al., 2018). By having public health as compulsory topic in schools and universities, this
prevalence and rate of obesity can be decreased especially in deprived areas where people have
more chances to be obese and overweight as well. By engaging in at least one of physical
activities such as: cycling, swimming, running, exercising and gym, people can be fit and
healthy.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized from the above study that obesity has negative impact on overall
health of people. It is one of the main health problems that lead other main severe problems such
as cardiovascular. It has further discussed some main causing factors of obesity. Some common
causing factors that have been discussed in above study include: lack of physical activity, having
sugary food, sugary drinks, and smoking to the great extent, consuming alcohol and poor diet. It
has shown effectiveness of prevention program on improving overall health and decreasing
obesity. PICO framework also plays a vital role as it helps out in knowing the main population
of selected articles, interventions used for preventing health problem and outcomes. It has shown
that how increment in cost of sugary items can have adverse impact on obesity. People do not
invest in sugary items when there is increment in sugary items and they are less likely to get
10

affected from obesity and other associated disease. Selection of relevant articles also plays a vital
role and it has shown some ways of selecting relevant articles. Keywords are known as the main
key or selecting relevant and accurate articles for gathering secondary data.
11

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Burton, W. and et.al., 2019. Participant engagement with a UK community-based preschool
childhood obesity prevention programme: a focused ethnography study. BMC Public
Health. 19(1). pp.1-14.
Chooi, Y.C., Ding, C. and Magkos, F., 2019. The epidemiology of obesity. Metabolism, 92,
pp.6-10.
Donini, L.M. and et.al., 2020. Critical appraisal of definitions and diagnostic criteria for
sarcopenic obesity based on a systematic review. Clinical Nutrition, 39(8), pp.2368-
2388.
Jastreboff, A.M. and et.al., 2018. Preventing childhood obesity through a mindfulness-based
parent stress intervention: A randomized pilot study. The Journal of pediatrics, 202,
pp.136-142.
Lavie, C.J., Ortega, F.B. and Kokkinos, P., 2018. Impact of physical activity and fitness in
metabolically healthy obesity. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 71(7),
pp.812-813.
Reilly, J.J. and et.al., 2018. Determining the worldwide prevalence of obesity. The
Lancet, 391(10132), pp.1773-1774.
Scheelbeek, P.F. and et.al., 2019. Potential impact on prevalence of obesity in the UK of a 20%
price increase in high sugar snacks: modelling study. bmj, 366.
Tamara, A. and Tahapary, D.L., 2020. Obesity as a predictor for a poor prognosis of COVID-19:
a systematic review. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research &
Reviews. 14(4). pp.655-659.
Yates, T. and et.al., 2021. Obesity, walking pace and risk of severe COVID-19 and mortality:
analysis of UK Biobank. International Journal of Obesity. 45(5). pp.1155-1159.
Online
Obesity Statistics. 2021. [Online]. Available through <
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03336/>
Burton, W. and et.al., 2019. Participant engagement with a UK community-based preschool
childhood obesity prevention programme: a focused ethnography study. [Online].
Available through < https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7410-0>
Carreras-Torres, R. and et.al., 2018. Role of obesity in smoking behavior. [Online]. Available
through < https://www.bmj.com/content/361/BMJ.k1767.full>
12

Scheelbeek, P.F. and et.al., 2019. Potential impact on prevalence of obesity in the UK of a 20%
price increase in high sugar snacks: modelling study. bmj, 366. [Online]. Available
through < https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4786.short>
Rauber, F. and et.al., 2020. Ultra-processed food consumption and indicators of obesity in the
United Kingdom population (2008-2016). [Online]. Available through <
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0232676>
Nianogo, R.A. and Arah, O.A., 2018. Impact of public health interventions on obesity and type 2
diabetes prevention: a simulation study. . [Online]. Available through <
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379718321275>
13