Health Survey: Obesity, Sedentary Behavior, and Associated Factors

This report examines the critical relationship between obesity and sedentary behavior, drawing on a health survey to explore the underlying causes, risk factors, and health implications of this growing public health concern. The study delves into the concept of obesity, exploring its definition, causes, and the various ways to determine and measure it. It also evaluates the major risk factors associated with obesity, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and genetic predispositions, and analyzes how these factors contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. The research methodology includes a detailed discussion of the research design, approach, philosophy, and data collection methods, as well as addressing ethical considerations and issues of validity and reliability. The report provides a comprehensive literature review, data analysis, and concludes with recommendations for addressing the issue of obesity and promoting healthier lifestyles. The potential significance of the research highlights the need for awareness and effective health promotion campaigns to mitigate the negative impacts of obesity on individuals and society.

How is obesity related to
sedentary behaviour?

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
1.1 Overview of research .......................................................................................................1
1.2 Background of the study...................................................................................................1
1.3 Rationale for the study......................................................................................................2
1.4 Research aims and objectives...........................................................................................2
1.5 Research Questions..........................................................................................................3
1.6 Framework and analysis...................................................................................................3
1.7 Potential significance of the research...............................................................................4
1.8 Chapter structure..............................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................7
2.1 Analyse the concept of obesity.........................................................................................7
2.2 Ways to determine the major cause of obesity...............................................................12
2.3 Evaluate the major risk factors related with obesity......................................................15
2.4 Ways to analyse how obesity is related with sedentary behaviour................................21
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................24
3.1 Type of investigation......................................................................................................24
3.2 Research design..............................................................................................................25
3.3 Research approach..........................................................................................................25
3.4 Research philosophy.......................................................................................................26
3.5 Data collection method...................................................................................................27
3.6 Sampling method............................................................................................................28
3.7 Data analysis...................................................................................................................29
3.8 Accessibility issues.........................................................................................................30
3.9 Ethical issues..................................................................................................................30
3.10 Validity and reliability..................................................................................................31
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................................32
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................53
5.1 Conclusion......................................................................................................................53
5.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................................53
REFLECTIVE STATEMENT.......................................................................................................53

REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................55
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................59

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview of research
Obesity is a state of an individual with access of body fat that impacts negatively on
health and may create several other medical issues for them. It is most commonly caused by a
combination of habits such as excessive take of balanced diet, lack of regular exercise and
genetic susceptibility. Moreover, it is essential for every person to take care of their food habit on
daily basis to reduce risk of being obese but negligence towards this issues may create several
critical diseases which are not easily curable (Alberga, Sigal, Goldfield, Prud', Homme and
Kenny, 2012). In current scenario, people prefer junk food regularly which generates problem in
order to make people fatty. However, it is effortless to maintain their body fat but it is very
difficult to reduce the same by conducting several tough physical activities for hours in daily
basis. There are various kinds of reasons behind gaining excessive weight including poor diet
with high fats or calories, sedentary lifestyle, not sleeping enough, genetics, growing older which
leads to slower metabolism and pregnancy. Additionally, several other medical problems are also
analysed which are responsible for weight gaining such as polycystic ovary syndrome, Prader-
Willi syndrome, Cushing syndrome, hypothyroidism and osteoarthritis.
1.2 Background of the study
The term obesity can be explained as a condition of a person in which they have more
weight than normal health. It can be considered as chronic situation which is defined by excess
amount of fat. The present research is based on health issue known as obesity among youngsters
through interpreting statistical data along with analysing specific causes and risk factors
associated with the same. Meanwhile, a normal quantity of body fat is required in order to store
energy, heat insulation, shock absorption and other relevant functions. Obesity is basically a
“Body Mass Index” of an individual which involves number of risk factors that may generated
through excess of body fat (Stubbs, Williams, Gaughran and Craig, 2016). Moreover, these
health problems are insulin resistance, Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, High blood pressure
(hypertension), hypercholesterolemia, cerebrovascular accident or CVA, Heart attack,
Congestive heart failure, Gallstones, Gout & gouty arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Sleep apnea.
Furthermore, several factors are associated with an issue of excess gaining of body fat which
include ethnicity, childhood weight and hormonal change. It is necessary for people to focus on
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this problem and put few easy steps to maintain their body weight to avoid the severe problem of
becoming fatty. People should prefer healthy diet, proper sleeping, ignore junk food, conduct
daily exercise, go for regular check-ups and many more. Additionally, there are several methods
which are effective as well as efficient in terms of measuring body fat in proper manner
including hydrostatic weighing, BOD POD and DEXA.
1.3 Rationale for the study
The obesity is considered as major health problem in present situation as it creates several
other critical disease in human beings which has certain different causes. It is observed and
analysed that various minor habits or life styles of people are responsible for obesity in young
people of country (Marsh, Mhurchu and Maddison, 2013). However, individuals are required to
take care of their body and prefer several desired precautions to avoid various health problems in
easy manner. It is very important for an individual to adopt certain habits such as taking balanced
diet, regular physical exercise, yoga, avoid junk food and many more. However, these are some
of very effective as well as efficient steps which provide support to avoid an issue of overweight
that may leads to several health problems. Additionally, there are different types of medical
issues that can create such as high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, gall
stones, erectile dysfunction, Osteoarthritis and many more. Moreover, obesity impacts negatively
on quality if life by generating certain problems including depression, disability, sexual
problems, shame & guilt, social isolation and lower work achievement.
The main purpose of this research to observe and analyse actual reasons behind obesity
among young people England. It will provide help to evaluate real cause to make an appropriate
curable techniques of procedures which can be used to reduce this issues in the nation.
Moreover, actual reasons of increasing patients of obesity can be controlled by making people
aware about actual reason along with effective precautions which can be taken by citizens for
remaining fit and fine (Harvey, Chastin and Skelton, 2015). The researcher gains different
information in terms of obesity which render support to them carrying out much efficient health
promotion campaigns in order to reduce this problems from the country. It is necessary to make
comparison among certain years about this problems so that accurate decision can be taken to
reduce the same.
1.4 Research aims and objectives
Aim –
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To determine how Obesity is related to sedentary behaviour. A health survey for
England.
Objectives
 To analyse the concept of obesity.
 To determine the major cause of obesity.
 To evaluate the major risk factors related with obesity.
 To analyse how obesity is related with sedentary behaviour.
1.5 Research Questions
 How to analyse the concept of obesity?
 What are the ways to determine the major cause of obesity?
 How to evaluate the major risk factors related with obesity?
 What are the ways to analyse how obesity is related with sedentary behaviour?
1.6 Framework and analysis
There are different types of tools and techniques which are helpful in carrying a particular
research appropriately for achieving desired results, that is known as framework. It includes
analysis of those specific methods which are supportive in order to gain better outcomes of
particular research. Some of these tools are explained further -
Research design – This can be described as to make an appropriate collections of
methods as well as processes which should be analysed with variables relevant to research
problem in overall procedures. It is of several types of such as descriptive, correlation, semi-
experimental, experimental, review and meta-analytic in which it is required to select best one
option which is more favourable for particular research process (Marsh, Foley, Wilks and
Maddison, 2014).
Research philosophy – The research philosophy refers to an appropriate method of
collecting overall relevant data or information which is required to conduct specific research
properly. It basically deals with the source, nature and knowledge which can be utilised in data
analysis for research to make more accurate outcomes.
Research type – The present study is based upon qualitative research which is preferred
to gain understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. It includes the criteria to
provide insights into problems or help in order generate concepts for a potential research.
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Research approach – This can be described as appropriate plan of action including
several procedures or activities such as data collection, analysis and interpretation. The present
dissertation is based ion deductive approach of research which provide help to analyse actual
information obesity.
Data collection – This refers to an appropriate technique of gathering and measuring
information in variables of interest which are organised in systematic way (De Craemer, De
Decker, De Bourdeaudhuij, Vereecken, Deforche, Manios, Cardon and ToyBox‐study group,
2012). Moreover, it is helpful in order to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and
evaluate outcomes. It is divided into primary and secondary data which are collected by several
different sources.
Data analysis – The data analysis can be explained as to an accurate procedure to
implement several statistical as well as logical techniques to define, condense and evaluate
information. The present dissertation is based on qualitative techniques along with conducting
thematic data analysis by graphical representation.
1.7 Potential significance of the research
The obesity is a stage of an individual’s where they get over weighted because extra fat
molecules get deposited in their body which create several problems for them. They lack their
flexibility of body, stamina and immediate action capability. Apart from this, during obesity,
people will remain always surrounded by different types of critical diseases such as Genetics,
Family lifestyle, Inactivity, Unhealthy diet, Medical problems, Certain medications, Social and
economic issues, Age, Pregnancy, Quitting smoking and lack of sleep. It is important to conduct
a research on obesity to know about actual cause of the problem in young people of England.
Moreover, it will facilitate to provide more effective information about negative habits of
youngsters and make them ware about those factors which are responsible for overweight
(Witten, 2016).
The potential significances of this dissertation is to thoroughly analyse present scenario
of adults through observing their lifestyles and determine threats in the same. It is helpful to gain
appropriate facts or figures about actual reasons and then provide this information to citizens of
country in order to make them healthy. It is well known that young individuals or adults are
future of the nations so that it is essential for them to remain fit which is mandatory for
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development. It is supportive to researcher for gaining required information in order to deal with
future medical issues properly.
1.8 Chapter structure
Chapter 1: Introduction
An introduction is most important part of any report containing basic information about
topic, its purpose, objective and depicts a background of the same. This also include assumptions
that will be made before starting the research. This section contains a brief knowledge about the
subject chosen for investigation or research as well as their objectives and problems that are to be
solved. In introduction, purpose should come first and than background, method of research and
scope (Brug, Van Stralen, Chinapaw, De Bourdeaudhuij, Lien, Bere, Singh, Maes, Moreno, Jan
and Kovacs, 2012). The purpose is always written in present tense, whereas background gives
the need of investigation and written in present or past tense. Method of investigation contains
research approaches and scope includes areas of investigation.
Chapter 2: Literature review
It is the information about previously published information by scholars or researchers
and on a specific topic chosen by researcher. These researchers have already performed some
research related to specific topic or have given some knowledge about it. The purpose of writing
literature review is to convey the reader about the knowledge and ideas that have been
established on a topic, and their strength and weaknesses. As a part of report writing, literature
review must be explained by directional concept such as research objectives, problems and issues
discussed in report and thesis of report. The purpose of literature review is to demonstrating
author's knowledge in respect of specific area through involving vocabulary, theories, key
variables, phenomena etc.
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
Research methodology is a process that is used to collect data and information
systematically for purpose of decision making in business. This methodology may contain
interviews, publication research, surveys and other techniques and may include its previous and
present information. Research methodology aim to solve intellectual and practical questions by
applying systematic methods (Golley, Hendrie, Slater and Corsini, 2011). It is necessary to select
best one option to conduct research by gathering proper data and information as it facilitates to
make more accurate results of research properly. An effective as well as efficient research
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methodology is essential to conduct research which provide support to make better results in
respect of particular topic or relevant.
Chapter 4: Data Analysis
The data analysis can be described as a procedure in which inspecting, cleaning,
transforming and modelling data should be done in order to fulfil requirements of particular goal.
It provide useful information, informing conclusions and support to make correct decision in
proper way. It is utilised to collect required data about specific topic which provide support to
conduct an appropriate interpretation so that better results can be concluded properly (Ho,
Garnett and Baur, 2014). There are various kinds of methods used for data analysis such as
qualitative including observations or interviews and qualitative which involve experiments &
surveys. It also includes process of interpreting the collected information through displaying it in
form of table, bar chart, line graph, or other suitable representation.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations
The conclusion refers to summary of a particular projects along with findings of the
same. It include to summarize various key facts which are identified in specific research project
relevant to topic or its problems. Moreover, after determining related findings, it is essential to
make some suggestions and mention with their significance. The present research is required to
conclude about obesity and its relevant risks as well as causes which are related to survey of
England. It needs to make an appropriate recommendations so that problems can be reduced in
an appropriate way in order to achieve desired development .
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Review can be defined as the in-depth research of the previous research which
is already been conducted by someone, previously and do not report new experimental tasks.
Basically, it is a summary and synopsis of whole research done. It sums up prior research and
flashes out about how a particular project is linked with that previous one. It describes new
learnings from prior research and gives new ideas with fresh starts. Moreover, it involves
description about particular topic and focus on relevant problems which should be mentioned
along with developing a thesis (Morawska and West, 2013). It basically includes to describe,
summarize, evaluate and clarify the literature of specific topic. Additionally, it is necessary to
survey books, scholarly articles and any other sources relevant to a particular issue, area of
research which helps to investigate about particular problem. There are three types of literature
reviews; evaluative, exploratory and instrumental. Literature review drags about new techniques
and statistical procedures which are not described in previous one. Literature review is important
in many ways; it improves research methodology, basically focuses on research problems,
assurance of new findings, etc.
2.1 Analyse the concept of obesity
Obesity can be described as medical condition in which an individual gains extra weight
due to that fat molecules get deposits in body tissues. It is most common problems which is
observed in young people because they have in appropriate life style including lack of physical
work, exercise and excess of eating junk food habit. Fast of items provide much calories in single
time meal but not render healthy diet to a person which results into gaining extra body weight
which leads to several dangerous disease also.
According to the point of view Rachael Rettner (2018), Obesity can be defined as the
situation where a human body stores and accumulates so much fat which is in excess amount,
will leave negativeness and harmful impact over human body and health. A person is said to be
obese when he gains at least 20% higher weight than normal weight. In recent years, number of
people having obesity are increased and it is a leading cause of major illness like, blood pressure,
heart attack, diabetes, different types of cancers and even death, in some cases. As a result,
World Health Organization has considered obesity as epidemic.
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Reasons of Obesity – There are so many reasons of obesity which causes various kinds
of critical health problems. Moreover, it may involve different types of causes such as
consuming too much calories, living a sedentary lifestyle and not sleeping enough. people,
specially youth are dependent on fast foods and eat them on regular basis. As a result, from these
foods, they consume too much calories than their body burns and it results in obesity. The
present ear is full of digitalisation which helps people to fulfil their various requirements by
sitting at home only. With introduction of televisions, computers, video games, etc. and other
modern techniques, people are going away from physical hard works and leading towards
sedentary lifestyle. Citizens are not taking enough night sleeps for various reasons; work
pressure, chatting on social sites, etc. Uneven sleeps are the major reasons of obesity.
According to the views of Ingrid Strauch (2018), there are several complications are
associated with obesity including chronic daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, learning
& memory difficulties, falling asleep while working or driving, depression and cardiovascular
disease. Various health risks are associated with obesity which are described here. Firstly, there
could be breathing disorders to human’s body such as; sleep apnea. Secondly, various types of
harmful cancers can occur to bodies such as; stomach cancer, blood cancer, etc. However, one of
major cause of obesity is uneven sleeps which results out in depression. Depression is severe
problem in which human body and mind does not work properly. At last, high blood pressure is a
disease which even small children faces. Obesity causes high and low blood pressure as well.
On the other hand, Debbie A Lawlor (2018) states about prevention that obesity should
be managed to prevent and decrease health risks associated with the same. People should manage
their weights by controlling calorie consumption because increased weight is the main cause of
obesity. They should take proper sleeps at night because proper night sleeps make human body
healthy and productive. Moreover, breast feeding provide support and protect children from
becoming obese. There are several types of techniques through body weight can be maintained
and avoid problem of obesity easily by preferring healthy activities or habits in their lifestyles.
However, young people of country must do physical exercise daily, prefer yoga, avoid intake of
junk food regularly, reduce habit of taking alcohol & other sugary drinks which results
maintaining an appropriate body weight to remain fit.
This reports include compared discussion about obesity in different population age
groups by age, sex, region and area deprivation. People of England has bad food habits and
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regular schedules due to which they become overweight or obese. Moreover, having this
problems, they create risks for several diseases including hypertension, diabetes and many severe
problems. It is analysed that 26% of men and 27% of women are obese whereas 40% males &
30% females are overweight which is similar to the statistics of year 2010. However, physical
activities among adults of given country are not able to met desired criteria as it is observed that
66 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women aged 19 and over met the aerobic activity
guidelines. Meanwhile, due to problem of obesity, 28% of adults has high blood pressure and
12% of them had untreated hypertension. Furthermore, citizens of England do not focus on their
and health and remain negligent in order to consult with specialist or taking medicine for issue of
become overweight or obese. Among the obese individuals, 31% or men and 16% of women
usually prefer to drink alcohol which increased risk of harm in 2016.
On the basis of opinion state by Cawley and Meyerhoefer (2012), People of selected
nation include that smoking is also creating critical issues for individuals who are overweight or
obese. It is analysed that 20% of males and 26% of females are smokers which is a bad habit as it
may generate more severe health issue for them in future. Furthermore, obese people with age
between 55 to 64 years are suffered with chronic kidney disease and 2% of adults are suffering
from the problem. Now, if talking about children then 16 per cent of them who aged between 2
to 15 years were obese and a further 12 per cent of children were overweight. Moreover, it is
analysed that prevalence of high blood pressure was 31% among men whereas 26% in women
which shows a little change in few years.
Obesity is a major issue because it generates other different types of severe diseases in
human body which are responsible to make life horrible. This can be classified as overweight,
obesity and central obesity and people are usually distinguished as normal, overweight or obese.
It is a non- communicable disease which takes place in citizens due to extra gaining of fat
molecules in body. There are different types of factors which are associated with this problem
are Fat Mass and Percent Body Fat, Body Mass Index and Fat Distribution (Central Obesity).
People usually face increased belly fat which create several issues and it is very difficult to be
reduced so that fatty individuals are required hours of work out on daily basis to maintain their
body through burning extra calories.
According to the point of view of Jonathan Q Purnell (2018), Body fat percentage of an
individual is total mass of fat divided by total body mass and multiplied by 100. It basically
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