Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight among Children of Honk Kong due to Small Housing System
1. INTRODUCTION
The world has already been facing with numerous challenges and complications being thrown from different areas and fields its way. Health conditions are also considered as one of the biggest challenges which has been faced by the people of every other country, despite of their level of development and progress in the contemporary world. Number of diseases have been observed to be emerging since decades, and there are several reasons and factors associated with this increase (Schokker, et al., 2007). However, researches have revealed the fact that obesity and being overweight is also considered as one of the major challenges for healthcare organisations of different countries of the world, as originally, it cannot be considered as a disease, but this has some serious and life-threatening consequences on human health for long term. Researches have revealed the fact that, in countries where there is high prevalence rate of obesity and overweight among children, there are increased number of chances for developing diseases later in their adulthood (Sobngwi, et al., 2002).
The diseases associated with obesity include cardio vascular disorders, heart attack, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, increase in high- and low-density lipoproteins in body, and overall increased level of cholesterol. Whereas, considering the factors associated with it, it has been analysed that due to rapidly changing and modifying lifestyles of individuals, the eating habits of children has also been largely affected as a result of which it has become difficult to prevent them from eating junk food, fast food and other fat gaining products like sugary items, baked products etc. As a result of these changes in eating habits of children, the rate of obesity from early age has been developing and spreading on a large scale, and there are multiple life-threatening concerns associated with it, which can not only affect the healthcare conditions and management of the country, but it also somehow affects the overall economy of the country (Chan, et al., 2010).
2. LITERATURE REVIEW:
Childhood obesity has been a major concern for healthcare organisations in different countries of the world, and number of strategies have already been adopted to overcome this issue. Considering the prevalence rate of childhood obesity among the children of Hong Kong, a research report has revealed the fact that by the year 2019, the rate of childhood obesity within Hong Kong has been reported to be up to 18.7%, which was almost 10 times more within the past few years. One of the major challenges associated with childhood obesity is increasing rate of non-communicable and chronic diseases (Lakshman, et al., 2012).
According to a research study, it has been analysed that the factors associated with childhood obesity are a complex of both environmental and genetic factors. The environmental factors family factors, early life development and lifestyle of children. Since, the current era is all about increasing influence of technology within the life of people, which has not only affected the modes of communication among people, but these technological advancements have their significant effects on almost every single aspect of life, one of which is health concerns of the people as well (Wang, 2004). Due to increasing usage of mobile phones, tablets, smart phones, and other technological devices, physical activities of children have been observed to be almost seized to a distinctive extent.
Majority of the children are now observed to be using their smart phones, during most part of their daily routine. In addition, the major concern which has been emphasized in this research study is the increasing rate of small homes within Hong Kong. Due to the fact that, the concept of small families has been largely increasing within the country, it has ultimately resulted in elevated number of families living in small homes, leaving the children with very limited to no space for playing sports or having any sort of physical activities (Jing, et al., 2017). In addition to this, family also plays a significant role in controlling the food intake of their children, and providing them portion controlled diets so that their proper upbringing and nourishment can be ensured, but at the same time their weight can also be kept under control. Researches have also revealed the fact that mother’s education also plays an effective role, as mothers are supposed to keep a check and observation on eating habits of their children.
Whereas, school systems are also to be blamed for this increasing rate of obesity among children (Lo, et al., 2016). Considering the lunch menus offered to the school going children, has been observed to be not considerably healthy and diet friendly, as an enormous number of baked items are being kept in the canteens and cafeterias of the schools.
Childhood obesity or challenges in healthcare sector, not only affects the families or the person on individual level, but they also have a major impact on the society as a whole. If the increasing rate of childhood obesity will not be controlled, it will ultimately result in emergence of increased number of physically and mentally unhealthy or unfit children. When children tend to have very limited physical activity, they get involved in sedentary activities which somehow seizes their level of innovation and productivity as well (DHHK, 2012). In addition, it has also been reported that childhood obesity also results in poor health conditions and challenges for children, like early occurrence of menstruation in obese girls. Whereas, children who are obese have also been observed to be reporting certain psychological issues and challenges, due to lack of confidence, bullying and harassment among their friends and reduced level of motivation for studying (Chan, et al., 2010).
3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
The questions which have been mainly designed for this research study have been mentioned below:
· What are some major concerns of increasing rate of obesity among children in Hong Kong?
· What are the reasons associated with increasing rate of childhood obesity in Hong Kong?
· Are small homes a major reason for childhood obesity in Hong Kong?
· What possible interventions and remedies can be adopted to resolve the increasingly prevailing rate of childhood obesity in Hong Kong?
4. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this research study are:
· To observe the reasons and causes associated with increasing rate of childhood obesity in Hong Kong.
· To analyze, whether small homes can be considered as a major reason for childhood obesity in Hong Kong.
· To assess the challenges and long-term complications associated with increasing childhood obesity in Hong Kong.
· To disclose and evaluate the possible interventions and remedies to be adopted, so that the increasing rate of childhood obesity can be reduced.
5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The research study has been mainly intended to analyze the risk factors, and causes associated with childhood obesity in Hong Kong, however, the major emphasized reason has been prevalence of small homes in the country. A detailed evaluation of all the literary data and information which has already been published in this regard has been conducted, to find out the epidemiology of childhood obesity in Hong Kong and in other areas of the world, whereas other aspects of the enlightened issue have also been analysed. In order to further discuss the research methodology which has been adopted for this project, the layers of Research Onion, proposed by Saunders et al. have been emphasised.
5.1.RESEARCH ONION:
5.1.1. RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY:
In order to conduct the research study, the type of philosophy from epistemological point of view, which has been chosen is the concept of positivism. Due to the fact that research questions have been designed, and these questions will be further evaluated and assessed to find out the appropriate results, shows that the concepts of positivism perfectly fit for this project. The data will be collected from multiple sources, and will be evaluated to analyze and find out the answers to our research questions.
5.1.2. RESEARCH APPROACH:
The type of research approach which has been manly opted for our project is deductive analysis. The concept of deductive analysis is the most appropriate and suitable approach for our project, as it mainly involves designing of a research question or a research hypothesis, and with the help of all the collected information from primary and secondary sources, it is concluded that whether our research hypothesis was true or not.
5.1.3. RESEARCH STRATEGY:
Considering the research strategies, it is essential for this project to acquire a huge amount of knowledge and information from multiple sources, including primary and secondary data collection. For this purpose, a research questionnaire has also been prepared which will be distributed among the selected participants via online and social media platforms so that views and ideas of people can be acquired. Therefore, this leads to the fact that for this research project, the type of strategy which we have chosen is qualitative analysis.
5.1.4. TIME HORIZONS:
Since, it is a ne time study only, therefore it can be considered as a cross sectional study, for which readings and observations from selected participants will be acquired for just one time.
5.1.5. DATA COLLECTION:
For secondary data collection, authentic and reliable sources will be mainly opted for information including JSTOR, IEEE, Springer, ResearchGate, PubMed, ScienceDirect etc. Whereas, for primary data collection, an online survey will be conducted with the help of the designed research questionnaire survey form.
6. REFERENCES
Jing Jing Wang, Yang Gao, Patrick W.C. Lau, 2017, Prevalence of overweight in Hong Kong Chinese children: Its associations with family, early-life development and behaviors-related factors, Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, Volume 15, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 89-95, ISSN 1728-869X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2017.10.001.
R. Lakshman, C. E. Elks, K.K. Ong, 2012, Childhood obesity, Circulation, 126(14)(2012), pp. 1770-1779
Department of Health of Hong Kong, 2016, Overweight and Obesity Rate of Hong Kong Primary Students.
P. Ip, F.K.W. Ho, H.K. So, et al. 2016, Socioeconomic gradient in childhood obesity and hypertension: a multilevel population-based study in a Chinese community, PLoS One, 11 (6) (2016), p. e0156945
Lo, Sze wan. (2016). The Specific Characteristics of Childhood Obesity and the Effective Strategies to Combat Childhood Obesity in Hong Kong: A Short Review. 4. 10.5176/2345-718X_4.1.128.
Chan, Christine & Deave, Toity & Greenhalgh, Trisha. (2010). Obesity in Hong Kong Chinese Preschool Children: Where Are All the Nurses?. Journal of pediatric nursing. 25. 264-73. 10.1016/j.pedn.2009.02.019.
Ko, G.T., Ozaki, R., Wong, G.W. et al. 2008, The problem of obesity among adolescents in Hong Kong: a comparison using various diagnostic criteria. BMC Pediatr 8, 10 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-8-10
Schokker, D., Visscher, L., Nooyens, C., van Baak, A., & Seidell, C. (2007). “ Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the Netherlands”, Journal for Obesity reviews, The International Association for the Study of Obesity, Volume 8, No.
Sobngwi, E., Mbanya, J., Unwin, U., & Albert, K. (2002). “Physical Activity and Its Relationship with Obesity, Hypertension and Diabetes in Urban and Rural Cameroon”, International Journal of Obesity, Volume 11, No. 26
Wang, Z. (2004). Influences of Socioeconomic Status, Dietary Factors and Physical Activity on Overweight and Obesity of Australian Children and Adolescents. PhD Thesis, Queensland, Queensland University of Technology
