Introduction
Prevalence of obesity among Canadian children and youth In the last 25 years, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in adolescents and children has increased significantly (Shields, 2006). The most affected parts comprise of the developed nations. For example, in Canada, the prevalence among youth and children is due to nutrition. Usually, health surveys primarily rely on the reports of weight and height of the respondents that sometimes are misleading.
Purpose Statement
The article provides a description of obesity and overweight among youth and children in Canada aged between 2 to 17, depending on the direct measurements of weight and height (Shields, 2006). The data from 1978 and 2004 are compared, and the trends are provided by age and sex groups.
Research Questions
- What is the cause of the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Canadian children and youth?
- What are the trends in the height and weight of the youth and children in Canada by age and sex groups?
Define Hypothesis
The study hypothesizes nutrition is the primary cause of the prevalence of obesity among Canadian Children and youth (Shields, 2006).
Identify Dependent and Independent Variables and Type of Data for the Variables The dependent variable is overweight, and obesity and the independent variable is height and weight.
The population of Interest for Study The descriptive data from the 2004 CCHS were used to measure the number of children aged 2 to 17 who were obese and overweight in relation to the selected characteristics.
Sample The estimates were based on the 8,861 adolescents and children for whom their height and weight were measured
Sampling Method Since the selected Canadian children accounted for 65% of the overall adolescents and children who are overweight, an individual sampling weight was established through redistributing the weights for a sampling of the non-respondents and respondents in relation to propensity classes of response (Shields, 2006). The courses were developed with CHAID to identify the features that best categorizes the sample into groups.
Identify Data Collection
The data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) for nutrition were used to describe the percentages of children and adolescents aged between 2 to 17 who were obsessed and overweight. The CCHS for 2004 was developed to collect data concerning the status of nutrition of the Canadian population at the provincial level.
Summarize Data Collection Approach The data collection approach involved a health survey for the Canadian population from 1978/79 to 2004
Discuss Data Analysis
A comparison of the weights and heights were performed using tables and graphs. Comparing the mean weight and height of children and adolescents aged 12 to 17 was used to describe the tendencies. Obesity TaskForce was used to define obesity and overweight (Shields, 2006). A Taylor series was used to analyze the standards errors and coefficients of estimates for variation from 1978/1979 of the Canada survey. Three-point averages were used to analyze the distribution of body mass index and household population. The BMI is also calculated for the data collected.
Summarize Results of Study The prevalence of obesity and weight among Canadian adolescents and children for the past 25 years has more than doubled while for obesity along has tripled (Shields, 2006). Youth and children who eat fruits and vegetables are less likely to be obese or overweight than those who eat them less often. The chances of becoming overweight or obese rises with the increase in the time spent on screens like the computer, watching TV or playing video games
Summary of Assumptions and Limitations
The study's primary limitation is that it has not placed the respondents into males and females; hence, it is gender-biased (Shields, 2006). The study assumes that both girls and boys are affected by obesity and overweight in a similar manner, which might not be the case in specific scenarios.
Ethical Considerations
Ethical consideration is regarded as one of the most significant parts of any research. The present research concern the health of humans, and since it only relies on the data collected from various databases, it is less likely to harm the respondents. However, the analysis and the outcome of the result can cause harm to people if it does not observe the real facts in relation to healthcare facts on obesity and overweight. The research respondents were not subjected to any form of harm. Validity is also an important ethical issue for research. The research design in the study majorly addressed the research questions. The study conclusion was also in correlation to the research questions and the outcome. The analytical method used in the study significantly relates to the research questions (Zyphur, & Pierides, 2017). The selection criteria used in the research did not coerce any respondent to participate in the study. The study obtained informed consent from the respondents before engaging in the research process. The confidentiality of the information collected from the subjects must always be respected. In this case, since the data was obtained from CCHS, there are higher chances that confidentiality is maximized, and using the information does not compromise the principles of research ethics. The quantitative research used in the study explicitly fits the objectives of the research explicitly hence, it observes the ethical guidelines. The communication of the results and its significance to the Canadian population is presented with transparency and honesty and bias on the study findings has been avoided in the research.
