Question

Section A: Read and answer ALL questions that follow
Trends of Obesity and Overweight among College Students in Oman
Hashim Al-Kilani; Mostafa Waly; and Randa Yousef
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2012 Feb; 12(1): 69–76
The prevalence of obesity and overweight among adults has drastically increased during the past
decade. Anthropometric indices such as body mass index (BMI) and total body fat (TBF)
analyses are used widely for assessing the physical well-being of adults. Worldwide, obesity and
sedentary lifestyles have been involved in the etiology of many no communicable diseases
(NCDs) among adults. Recent reports suggested that there was a direct relationship between
adolescent fatness and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.4,5 Health-related fitness
parameters were more dependent on the anthropometrical parameters in obese than in control
adolescents.5 Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality among adults, and a
systematic analysis of population health data revealed that, among the nine risk factors of heart
attacks and strokes, six risk factors are modifiable, while three are non-modifiable risk factors;
these include increasing age, male gender and family history of cardiovascular disease
(CVD).6,7 The six modifiable risk factors that are the focus of current research for primary
prevention are 1) increased blood cholesterol; 2) increased blood pressure (hypertension); 3)
cigarette smoking; 4) lack of regular physical exercise; 5) type 2 diabetes, and 6) obesity.
According to the World Health Organization and the American College of Sports Medicine, the
most important risk factors of NCDs in Arab countries are high blood pressure; high blood
cholesterol level; inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables; overweight or obesity; physical
inactivity, and smoking. Five of these risks are closely related to improper diet and physical
inactivity. Primary prevention of NCDs among adolescents can be achieved through early
screening for associated risk factors, and health education on the various risks of obesity and a
sedentary lifestyle. This study was conducted to: 1) determine the body mass index (BMI), TBF
and physical activity score (PAS) of a sample of college aged students and so assess the
prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity; 2) evaluate the physical activity of all study
participants, and 4) determine the relationship between the study participants’ body composition
(the relative amounts of various components in the body, such as percentage of body fat) and
their general nutritional knowledge.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) campus during
the period August 2010 to June 2011. The sample of the study consisted of 202 students (101
male and 101 female) from five colleges at SQU. The sample was selected using purposive
sampling. The inclusion criteria were to be healthy subjects who were free of any endocrine
disorders or any chronic diseases. The research data were collected by means of a questionnaire.
The questionnaire form was composed of two sections: general and anthropometric information,
and nutrition knowledge questions. Ethics committee approval for conducting the study was
obtained from office of the Advisor for Academic Affairs at Sultan Qaboos University.

The study questionnaire was designed to collect sociodemographic data and general nutritional
knowledge as determined by 10 multiple-choice questions, each with three possible answers. The
questionnaire was pre-tested in a pilot study on a sample of 20 students to assure its validity,
reliability and reproducibility before conducting the study. Examples of the questions asked to
assess the nutritional knowledge were: A) what type of dietary fibre is helpful in lowering blood
cholesterol level? B) What are good sources of vitamin B12? C) What are the nutrients that raise
low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels? D) What is the highest source of energy? For
all study participants, the study questionnaire was completed during a personal interview with
one of the researchers.
This study included 202 students (101 male and 101 female) from five colleges at Sultan Qaboos
University whose mean age was 21.22±1.37 years. The mean percentage scores of enrolled
students in nutrition knowledge were 56.46±13.50; ranging from a minimum of 25% to a
maximum of 85%. All students reported exercising weekly; 38.61% reported exercising 4 to 6
hours a week, and 30.69% reported exercising 7 to 9 hours a week. The PAS of 44.06% of the
students ranged from 7 to 9. Based on BMI, more than two thirds of enrolled students were of
normal weight (69.31%), 26.73% were overweight while obese students constituted only 1.49%
of the sample. In contrast, based on percentage of body fat only, one third was healthy (32.67 %)
with normal body fat scores (BFS), while almost half of them had high (26.73%) or very high
BFS (22.28%).

1. What type of research design was used in this study? (1 Mark)
2. Discuss in detail the best method for measuring reliability for this study? (2Marks)
3. What is the significance of the study? (1 Mark)
4. What type of sampling methods was used in the study? Describe the main steps in
devising it
5. What are the main findings of this study?
6. Formulate two hypotheses within this research topic? (1 Mark)
7. List two previous studies that may use for this research project by using the APA
citation style. Do not ignore preferable type of literature for your selection.

Answer 1

1. what type of research design was used in this study case?

Ans:-

In this paragraph reseach design was used to show the fitness among the adults and they also show the various case study held at different different location to know about tha reason of why obesity and overweight are in increasing rapidly in this decade

2. Discuss in details the best method for measuring reliability for this study?

Ans:-

The best method for measuring realibilty for any study is observing the things by reaching that particular region and do some experiment/test, like in this paragraph they are continously go to the different different location and find the reason why obesity , overweight and other medical problem arising among adults, they went to different location only because location weather also impact on healths.

3. what is the significance of the study?

Ans:-

Study are basically done for the knowedge, because without study we can not conclude about anything like in this paragraph world health organisation confirm that the most important risk factor of NCDs in Arab countries are high blood pressure and survey on sultan Qaboos University campus conclude that those who were healthy was free from any endocrinedisorders or any chronic diseses

4. what type of sampling methods are used in study? Describe the main steps in devising it.

Ans:-

In this main method for sampling is to visit different different location for the gaining of knowledge about the health among the adults like, world health organisation and America colleges of Sports Medicine confirm that the most important risk factor of NCDs in Arab countries are high blood pressure and survey on sultan Qaboos University campus conclude that those who were healthy was free from any endocrinedisorders or any chronic diseses

5. What are the main finding of this study?

Ans:-

The six modifiable risk factors that are the focus of currnt research for promary preventation are 1) Increased blood cholesterol 2) Increased blood pressure(hypertension) 3) cigarette smoking 4) Lack of regular physical exercise 5) Different types of diabets 6) obesity and overweight

6. Formulate two hypothesis within this research topic?

Ans:-

world health organisation and America colleges of Sports Medicine confirm that the most important risk factor of NCDs in Arab countries are high blood pressure and survey on sultan Qaboos University campus conclude that those who were healthy was free from any endocrinedisorders or any chronic diseses

7. List two previos studies that may use for this research project by using tha APA citation style. Do not ignore preferable type of literature for your selection.

Ans:-

The APA referencing style is an "author-date" style, so the citation in the text consists of the author(s) and the year of publication given wholly or partly in round brackets. Use only the surname of the author(s) followed by a comma and the year of publication. world health organisation and America colleges of Sports Medicine confirm that the most important risk factor of NCDs in Arab countries are high blood pressure and survey on sultan Qaboos University campus conclude that those who were healthy was free from any endocrinedisorders or any chronic diseses.

Let me know in the comment section if anything is not clear. I will reply ASAP!
If you liked the answer, please give a thumbs-up. This will be quite encouraging for me.Thank-you!