Income Disparities in Obesity Trends Among Califor Essays - Obesity

Income Disparities in Obesity Trends Among Califor Essays - Obesity Income Disparities in Obesity Trends Among California Adolescents Hiral Patel PSY 101-600 Professor Elizabeth Lavertu 2/20/11 Obesity is a common problem in our society. A few researchers decided to study this matter further and compare obesity rates among low-income families and high-income families. In "Income Disparities in Obesity Trends Among California Adolescents," four authors: Susan H. Babey, Theresa A. Hastert, Joelle Wolstein, and Allsion L. Diamant, describe the entire process of the study: The researchers wanted to prove that income levels affect obesity in adolescents. Adolescents who come from low-income families are more likely to be obese than adolescents who come from high-income families. This study also included gender to see if males or females were more apt to become obese as a factor of income. The variables that were involved with the experiment were: weight, income level, gender and race. The research looked at the income levels as well as the weight/Body Mass Index (BMI) of the participants. Among the participants in the study, weight and income level changed. Therefore, weight and income level are known as independent variables. The dependent variables were gender, race, and obesity. Obesity amongst females in the low-income groups was not different from the females of the high-income group. Obesity rates were based on the charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, poverty and family income levels were judged based on the federal poverty rate. Three samples were used throughout this research. The first part of the sample was finding the participants. The second part of the sample was finding the people that would be interviewed. The third and last part of the sample was stating the facts about the study. The study was done in five languages and took place over four years. There was one sample group that was made from a sample population. Since the study was random, researchers were able to get a sample fraction of the participants of the study. The methods employed in the study would be the steps on how the researchers selected the participants. Logistic regression was used in this study, and income level had changed. A survey is a method in which researchers ask participants questions. When they put the answers together, they can see the trends. In this case, the California Health Interview Survey asked numerous health questions of a certain number of people between specific ages. The researchers in charge of this project were able to find out how many teenagers or young adults were obese. They were also capable of seeing where the teenagers or young adults resided, as well as the income levels of the families of the teenagers or young adults. Some types of information were requested, whereas other types of information were reported. For instance, if the survey asked about the race of each participant, the researcher was able to tell if more African-American, white, or Hispanic teenagers were obese. On page 3 of the docume nt, it shows that the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was a telephone survey of homes around the state. It was designed to represent all kinds of people. CHIS interviews were done in several languages. Teenagers were asked specific information that the reader is able to find in the documented article. That information was used to decide if the teenager was obese by standards set up by an institution. The study had numerous results. The demographic information stated who exactly was studied, including how long the survey took place, the average age of participants, gender and races. Also, there was a small increase in the obesity rates in California in the years during the study. For instance, the obesity rate for the low-income group between 2001 and 2007 almost doubled. Males were more likely to be obese than females. Asian adolescents were the least likely to be obese. The connection with males and lower-income levels was significant. In conclusion, the hypothesis was proven. The article proves that obesity is related to economic status. However, there could have been more correlations between gender and income levels. The research was done in California. Thus, to make the study more inclusive, the research could have been conducted in diverse places. The study could have been improved if the researchers had