Child Obesity In Dubai: A Research Proposal Essay.

You are to group yourselves into 2 members and decide of a topic/issue/ concern/ problem that you observed in an institution, company, organization or community as your research assignment.Based on the chosen topic/problem prepare a research proposal to address the said issues and concern choosing either Qualitative design, Quantitative design or Mixed method.You have to submit Part 1 and Part 2 as a preliminary outline for instructor’s review.Final submission is before the final exam.

6. Research Methodology

• Sample frame & sampling procedures.
• Method of data collection (questionnaire/survey/ interview/ whichever is used)
• Variables and measures
• Analysis and results.

Socio-economic changes in Dubai as a reason behind the rising case of obesity

The Arab countries have now emerged as one of those few countries that have large number of obesity and overweight cases. The United Arab Emirates has no different story. Dubai in particular is topping the chart for high numbers of obesity cases. There are various reasons behind the rising issue; however, the changed socioeconomic lifestyle has been identified as one potential reason behind the rising case. The socioeconomic changes in the last four decades have probably compelled the population for a less addiction to the physical exercises.

The habit is associated majorly by unhealthy foods, which contains high amount of fat and calories in it (Ali et al., 2013). This could not have become a problem for the community if they had taken a proper care of their diets and physical exercises. They might have their excuses such as the present busy schedules for daily life. People nowadays have according to them less time to think on physical exercises. The scarcity of time is probably prompting them to rely on easily available foods such as the fast foods (Myles, 2014). The culture of fast foods is growing with the growing pressure of daily life across the globe. The pressure is of varied types, which differs with the differing nature of various generations.

 The researcher has chosen the Child Obesity in Dubai as his topic for the research. Various reasons are there that has shaped the minds of the researcher towards the research topic. The most significant reason behind choosing the research topic was to get some useful findings on the growing epidemic of obesity among the adolescents. Obesity is one of the most identified reasons for diabetes in adult people (Roman, Parlee & Sinal, 2012).

The rising cases of diabetes are a threat to a healthier society in Dubai. Nevertheless, the rising cases of obesity in adolescents are a threat to the future society of Dubai. Diabetes and obesity have now largely become interconnected. These are some facts, which have shaped the perception of the researcher towards the research topic. Diabetes happens because of various reasons of which diets and exercises are the commonest reasons. Nevertheless, diets and exercises are also causing the obesity largely. Obesity is causing diabetes to happen because it encourages the weight gain in its followers. People with high weights are highly susceptible to diabetes (Davis et al., 2012).

The changing lifestyle of people living across the globe and in particular Dubai is a consequence of busy schedules, which is with them by means of various reasons such as hardcore jobs, hectic daily routines in schools etc. The changing socioeconomic condition in Dubai is affecting the lifestyle through various means. Adolescents those who are into their secondary schools have access to various vendors that are located within a smaller radius of the school campus. This is making things such as fast foods visible to the eyes of schoolchildren. Because of such situations, they are probably becoming addicted to easily available foods (Meko et al., 2015).

The impact of fast food consumption on the health of adolescents in Dubai

Having fast food is bad because of various reasons of which the increasing reliance on fast foods is the biggest concern for the community. The adolescents and the little kids now prefer fast foods over the home made foods. This has made life easier for the parents as they would be able to save some time, which the earlier generation had to give on cooking. However, the luxury to live a less burdened life has given birth to serious concern, which very less people had thought before. The researcher has chosen the particular segment of community because it is very important that the younger community remain healthier. The younger generation would be the future of Dubai, which is why it is very important that they live healthy (Milteer, Ginsburg & Mulligan, 2012).

 The study is very purposeful as it is intended to benefit a large community, which is getting affected by obesity. The little kids studying in schools who are the future of Dubai workforce is getting addicted to an unhealthier lifestyle. The lifestyle at one place is relieving the parents from the work pressure of preparing foods for their kids. However, it is on other hand affecting a large population who are in their early age. According to a report, the future of Dubai would witness a highly incrementing numbers in Diabetes cases (Klautzer, Becker & Mattke, 2014).

It then becomes an urgent situation to prove things wrong by stressing on a changed lifestyle, which would seek a healthier aspect of life. However, prior to take any initiatives it is important that sufficient research work on the topic take place. This is indeed important to know the probable reason behind the rising cases of obesity. Initiatives would only be viable if it is taken against the identified reason. However, the topic is still left with some more findings such as danger level of fast foods to the children. Nevertheless, until now high consumption of fast food is considered the major reason behind the rising cases of obesity.

1.2 Problem statement

The rising cases of obesity are the main problem that has drawn the attention of the researcher towards the topic. The lifestyle of people in Dubai has gone through a drastic change in the last four decades. They are now busy than ever they had. The busy schedules are not only confined to a particular group; it rather has captured probably the entire group. It also includes the adolescents studying in secondary schools (Zaidan & Kovacs, 2017). The rising cases are a concern because it is supporting the rise of diabetes also. Nevertheless, overweight is just the consequence of obesity, which has emerged as one potential reason for rising numbers of diabetic patients.

1.3 Research objective

• To know the views of adolescents on fast foods
• To know the increasing rate of obesity in school children in Dubai
• To know the psychology for fast food consuming in adolescents in Dubai
• What are the views of adolescents on fast foods?
• What is the rate of increment in obesity in schoolchildren in Dubai?
• What psychology is acting behind the fast food consuming in adolescents in Dubai?

Obesity has captured a wide recognition across the globe. The epidemic has also influenced Dubai. The city has actually registered some mounting figures in the list of rising cases of obesity. People of all age groups have found to be contaminated with obesity. The epidemic has not left the adolescents groups as well. This is one problem because it has captured a larger group of community. Another problem is related to its consequences,

Why child obesity needs to be addressed urgently in Dubai

which is producing many diseases such as diabetes. The rising cases of obesity are giving birth to rising numbers of overweight cases. Nevertheless, overweight is one of the reasons of diabetes in adult (Cândido & Bressan, 2014). The future of Dubai would be in danger if some initiatives were not taken against the created problem. The topic for the research is taken to add some beneficial works in the already achieved success in the research works on obesity.

The research would target a particular segment, which are the adolescents or the schoolchildren in Dubai. The selection is made to get adequate information on the chosen subject topic. This is required because the future workplace of Dubai would be occupied with the Millennials. Those Millennials are the adolescents of present Dubai. The rising consumption of fast food would weaken the physical capabilities of the adolescents, which would certainly reduce the efficiency level of the future workforce.

The research topic is focussed on finding some useful information, so that, it could attract some future initiatives from the local government of Dubai. This is indeed very important for the local government that they adopt some initiatives to reduce the rising cases of obesity. According to the medical science, consumption of foods that has high numbers of fat and glucose in it hampers an appropriate growth of adolescents. It influences the development of mind in schoolchildren, which is a very dreadful situation for a society that relies heavily on its offspring. Apart from the development of brain, it also hampers the physical development in kids.

This is very important for little kids that they get proper development of their physical capabilities. Physical efficiency is required to perform better at every different level of life (Jaworowska et al., 2013). Nonetheless, obesity is a serious concern for the entire world and for the Dubai in particular. The literature review section would try to find the answers for the questions set in the introduction chapter; however, the literature review only would not be sufficient for gaining adequate information on the chosen topic. The proposed research work has a good scope in such cases, as this would try to find some other information, which are yet untouched.

2.1 Adolescents on fast foods

The reason behind the rising addiction of adolescents for fast foods is for various reasons of which the availability of food vendors near to school is one such reason. The schoolchildren have developed a tendency to move to the nearby available stores for having fast foods. The existence of food vendors near to the premise of schools across the Dubai should be a concern for the local government. This is because it is becoming reason for the attraction of adolescents towards fast foods (He et al., 2012).

The availability of food vendors near to school is actually influencing the behaviour of schoolchildren. They are getting motivated towards the taste of foods that are accessible to them at ease. The infrastructure change is perhaps because the changing economic condition in the city. Unemployment rate is significant, which is why it is necessary that they choose some alternatives. The rising numbers of employability issues are forcing them for such means of resource. They are just fulfilling their requirements.

Objectives of the research

On the other hand, they are becoming a resource to elevating numbers of obesity cases. The employability related solution has become a challenge to the local government. The employability is because of various reasons of which a large number of immigration from other parts of world is the one reason. Dubai unlike other parts of world is an open economy as well as it is very open for foreign employees. This is why people from other parts of world are coming to the city just to find solutions for their economic needs.

This is indeed helpful for those people; however, it is not so good for the local residents. Immigrant employees are ready to work for a lesser minimum wages. This is one possible reason, which is incrementing the numbers of unemployment in the city (Buckley, 2012). In such changing economic condition, some who are less competitive are left with these kinds of business only. They are serving their needs; however, it is leaving a negative consequence on the adolescents groups in Dubai.

2.2 Growth rate of obesity

The different study that has already been done on measuring the prevalence of obesity in Dubai reveals some threatening figures. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have shown that the percentage of obesity in children of 6-16 years of age is 8%. According to the report of International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), 14% of 5-17 age groups were found to be contaminated with obesity. According to the WHO report, 16% of 6-18 age groups were found suffered with obesity (AlBlooshi et al., 2016). This is a dreadful situation for Dubai because a very significant numbers of adolescents have found to be infected of obesity.

The rising numbers of obesity may add some more values in the infected list. Obesity is associated with various diseases, which are very dangerous for human health. Diabetes is the commonest problem, which is largely being seen because of obesity. Obesity helps to gain extra weight, which is one of the commonest reasons behind the diabetic cases. In United Arab Emirates (UAE), a national study has revealed that the schoolchildren in the country are at increasing risk of obesity. Additionally, the study has also revealed that the figures were even higher than any other international part of the world (Hussain et al., 2015).

Some research studies on the reasons behind the epidemic problem have found some commonest but interesting facts, which are igniting the growth of obesity in Dubai. Notable research works in recent past have found that a series of foods such as hamburgers, pizza, sandwiches etc. have disturbed the diabetic habits of adolescents living in the city. The reasons behind the changed habits of schoolchildren are many such as the availability of food vendors near to the office premise.

Additionally, the changed lifestyle of parents has also influenced the behaviour of schoolchildren in Dubai. Parents nowadays consider the readymade foods for schools. This is because it saves their some time. They are successful in their thintank as well because fast foods are high in taste. Children in fact are made addicted to such foods from very beginning of their life.

Target group of the research: Schoolchildren in Dubai

They are given several readymade foods such as Lays, which are easily digestible as well as highly tastier. The changed lifestyle of parents has replaced the traditional style of foods, which relied much on homemade products. Homemade products were used to be high in taste as well as very nutritious. They were being cooked the homemaker with utmost cares to nutritious part of foods. The changed lifestyle of people living in Dubai and a changing socioeconomic condition in Dubai has both contributed hugely in the changed behaviour of parents (Carne, 2016).

Another notable problem is the epidemic spread of fast foods on different media resources through advertisements. The role-play of advertisements has high significance in the changing perception of parents and the schoolchildren. Parents are getting attracted to the various advertisements of food products because it is providing them an alternative option for homemade foods. They actually get to know the several kinds of food products, which they look as an alternative to the homemade foods. The fast foods or the outside snacks have become a supportive weapon for the parents in Dubai. The entire system has become problematic, which has posed challenges to the local government of Dubai and for the different parents living in the city to cope with the created urgency (Frangonikolopoulos & Chapsos, 2012).

The use of Smartphone in schoolchildren is another reason behind the changing lifestyle of parents and children living in Dubai. Smartphones have become a good resource to various sites that shows advertisements during several TV shows. Advertisements related to some food items have also become a part of such daily soaps. Additionally, YouTube, which is a widely popular online site, has various videos on it related to fast foods and snacks. This is also contributing in the shaping the minds of children with some new findings as shown in such videos.

Parents here again are responsible for letting their kids to have access to the smartphones. Parents provide them the various ranges of Smartphones. They are actually making their kids addicted to the use of Smartphones. Addiction to Smartphones has brought their vision closer to the outer world quite before their maturity. The outer world is providing them all the information that they need. The entire system of nurturing has been contaminated with various peculiar things, which should never be a part of their life (Strasburger, Jordan & Donnerstein, 2012).

This is indeed difficult to change the circulated mode of nurturing; however, it is feasible that the local government of Dubai adopt some required initiatives to reduce the rising cases of obesity. It would be difficult to change the system; however, some necessary initiatives such as the positioning of food vendors at around the school premise can be restricted. The local government can take some necessary initiatives against such vendors; however, the government would also be required to provide adequate spacing to those food vendors. The adoption of initiatives should be in equilibrium state, which would be beneficial for the kids as well as to the food vendors.

Benefits of the research project

2.3 Psychology behind fast food consuming in adolescent

 Various psychological factors are there that are influencing the behaviour of adolescent across the globe. Availability of the fast food vendor in the environment near to the school or residence is one of those factors. It has a vital role-play in influencing the behaviour of kids. The ever rising media use and the use of Smartphones have already brought the adolescents closer to a wide range of fast foods available on those media resources. They have been motivated accordingly, which is why it is very much possible that the availability of fast foods vendors close to schools and residences would attract them towards the taste of foods.

Taste of fast foods is another factor that acts as a catalyst in igniting the temptation for foods close to naked eyes. Numerous psychological factors apart from the mentioned ones are also used such as the costs of fast foods and the convenience of getting it. Nevertheless, different fast foods manufacturing companies are getting benefits of psychological advantage on the adolescents. The psychology is getting influenced by various other factors such as the lifestyle of schoolchildren in Dubai. From different countries different figures have been derived on fast food centre visits by schoolchildren every week.

Australia in this regard is among the top few locations in the world followed by Canada and Brazil. The situation is even worse in America. Dubai is not any exception. It has now been a culture to visit to different fast food centres every week in Dubai. The changing culture of modern schoolchildren groups and the changing socioeconomic condition of the city have both contributed in influencing their psychology (Monge-Rojas et al., 2013). The situation is getting worse with the passage of time. It is very difficult to protect schoolchildren from consuming the various kinds of fast foods; however, it is rather feasible to impose certain strict obligations on fast food vendors.

Obligations may include such as not allowing them any free space near to schools or residential areas. The local government of Dubai may also conduct some medical campaigns, which would facilitate the knowledge sharing on the disadvantages of eating fast foods. Various non-profit organizations may also contribute in this cause by conducting various health related campaigns especially near to school or residential areas, so that, they be aware of the harmfulness of eating fast foods.

2.4 Literature gap

The literature has certain gaps as well. It has not covered it precisely the level of impact of fast foods on adolescents. Studies are still in continuation on measuring the impact of fast foods on the health of schoolchildren. Various figures are getting published but it is never confirmed with any of the publishing. It is undeniable that fast foods are harmful because the materials, which the different vendors use, may or may not be from trusted resource. There are speculations on the quality of materials used. The literature has supported the homemade foods but it has failed in establishing the exact level of harmfulness of the fast foods. The topic would attract various other research works in future until and unless the society is not able to get an exact figure on the harmfulness of the fast foods. Nevertheless, the people living in Dubai especially the kids who are studying in schools are at risk because they do not have clear picture on the fast foods.

The danger level of fast food consumption to the children

A wide range of research methodology is used for the research of the studies. This paper chooses the systematic literature review methodology for the research on the selected field of child obesity in Dubai (Flick, 2015). The process and steps to conduct systematic literature are described in this chapter to clear that how this methodology can be used for extending research based on existing literature to clarify Identify relations, problems, solutions and gaps in the literature related to child obesity in Dubai.

As stated by Tarone, Gass and Cohen (2013), there are three ways of analysing a study. They are:

• Positivism
• Interpretativism
• Pragmatic

Positivism is a process in which the researcher is completely based on data (Gast and Ledford 2014). In Interpretivism, the researcher interprets the findings and previous literary works in order to provide his own version (Panneerselvam 2014). When both data and the feelings of the human beings are used, then the research philosophy can be termed as pragmatism (Smith 2015).

3.1 Sample frame and sampling procedures

 A researcher has two choices in terms of sampling in a study (Baskerville & Wood-Harper, 2016). They are probability sampling and non-probability sampling.

In probability sampling the scholar has to ensure the research work and remain neutral during the conduction of the research (Nuttin, 2014). Research biasness is neglected by the researcher by the scholar. The data collected in this form of sampling is dependent on the participants who are not manipulated.

 In this type of research, the data is directly connected to the results that are acquired of the research. The acquired results will be very helpful in acquiring the facts and findings in the research (Fassinger & Morrow, 2013).

3.2 Method of data collection 

There are three kinds of research methods which are used in conducting the research (Baskerville & Wood-Harper, 2016). They are:

• Qualitative research method: In qualitative research the process of survey or collection of information is indifferent from quantitative method. If the participants are lesser in number, the interviews with open ended questions are asked to them (Khan, 2014). The detailed feedback of the participants helps the researcher to perceive better information about the target topic. Both primary and secondary research can be conducted through this process (Wildemuth, 2016).
• Quantitative research method: Quantitative research deals with data which is scientific or mathematical. If the questionnaires or the sample survey is conducted on short or objective questions, the researcher perceives definite mathematical data. In case of quantitative research the number of participants in the research process is more in number in compared to qualitative research (Nuttin, 2014). The feedback of all the participants are collected as ‘yes’, ‘no’, ’agree’, ‘disagree’ and others, which are easily transmitted into statistical data. These close ended questions provide the definite answers required for this kind of research (Fassinger & Morrow, 2013). Statistical method or calculations are used to analyze the results of the feedbacks.
• Mixed research method: Mixed method is an amalgamation of both qualitative and quantitative method. The mixed research method ensures depth and insight on research topic when conducting a research on large number of participants (Smith, 2015).

  Mixed research method is utilised in this study. The mixed research methods include both qualitative and quantitative research method. This research will use qualitative research in order to acquire results. However, secondary data will be the main source of this research (Literat, 2013). According to the quantitative research method data is collected from the participants through open ended questions Reybold, Lammert & Stribling, 2013). A research also requires descriptive data in order to analyse. The secondary data is often utilised for this. Hence the secondary data will be used in order to collect data from the available literature in this field.

3.2.2 Research approach

There are two types of research approaches (Khan, 2014). They are deductive research approach and inductive research approach.

Inductive research is more scientific in terms of its approach and outcome. This method is primarily used in case of scientific inventions, new theories, concepts and models in new areas of study (Gries, 2013). The study is about acquiring old data and the primary data from the respondents and to implement it in the research. This research will be helpfull for the future researchers as it will avail real information (Yanow & Schwartz-Shea, 2015). In inductive research new theories and ideas are acquired unlike the deductive research.

Initiatives to reduce child obesity in Dubai

  In the deductive research approach the researcher applies the previous theories in order to analyse the new information (Palinkas et al., 2015). This research approach is not used in the fields of science.

3.2.3 Research approach 

Deductive research approach is the chosen approach for this paper. This research will consist of the data analysis part in which the previous theories and adapt will be utilised.  As per the idea presented by Flick, (2014), the information or data which is acquired from the previous pares are utilised in this research.

3.2.4 Ethical consideration

Ethical consideration is essential for every research proposal (Bryman & Bell, 2015). The articles, journals and papers used are authentic sources. Hence, the researcher should be careful in considering the legal aspects of using the previous research works and while conducting the new research.

• Informed participant consent: The consent of the participants are inherently required for this research. It should be in ethics of the researcher to make the participants feel free and comfortable during the research (Silverman, 2016).
• Rights of the participants: A research should be conducted with good ethics. The researcher should allow the respondents to participate and leave the survey according to their own wish. This is a primary prerogative of the researcher. The emotional and the psychological condition of the participants should be kept in mind by the researcher (Yin 2013).
• Security of the reports: The safety and security of the information which is acquired by the researcher should be safeguarded properly. The personal information should be secured in order to negate the question of harassment for the respondents (Bryman, 2015).
• Storage of information: The data of collected from the respondents should be stored properly (Taylor, 2017). The safety and security of the data will ensure the legal aspects of the research.
• Expressions required from the respondents: The research proposal should be transparently present to the respondents in order to avoid further conflicts (Cohen, Manion & Morrison, 2013).
• Feedback to participants: The feedback of the respondents should be utilised properly and should not be misinterpreted to achieve something (De Vaus, 2013). The researcher should ensure this in order to negate any chances of termination from the institute.

 There are two forms of variables in a research. They are independent variable and dependent variable (Best & Kahn, 2014).

Independent variable: Intake of fast food.

Dependent variable: Child obesity.

In order to evaluate the seriousness of childhood obesity in a global city like Dubai it will be important to analyse and evaluate the health reports and the market psychology mentioned in the literature review (Taylor, 2017). The author will analyse the reports and the survey to analyse the point of view of the adolescent children towards fast food, the reason behind the increase in the intake of fast food among the adolescent children and to understand the marketing which attracts the children psychologically towards the fast food.  

3.4 Analysis and results

 Mixed data analysis will be used for this paper. The first approach in carrying out this research is literature review (Ott & Longnecker, 2015). Literature review provides an idea about the data collection method and process of data analysis. The quantitative data is collected from the conducted survey through the internet among the citizens of Dubai. The author will send the 50 questionnaires to the random citizens of Dubai in order to conduct this survey. Simple random sampling will be used in case of this research. The primary data is collected from the internet surveys whereas the secondary data is collected from the authentic researches, reviews, media reports and academic journals.  

 The research conducted will be pragmatic as it will be interpretive as well as positive in terms of data analysis (Ott & Longnecker, 2015). There may be similarity or variability in the responses. The author will summarize all the responses and the literature written on the issue will report a general outcome.

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