Name: Ruth-Ann Lambert

Grade: 602b
Problem Statement: Obesity and being overweight in children has been a growing concern for the
Jamaican public health. Many Researches such as those conducted by the Tropical Medicine Research
Institute and the University of the West Indies have seen a trend over the past few years determining
children are becoming heavier and heavier. Obesity can lead to many implications and as such obesity and
over heaviness in children needs to be dealt with swiftly and effectively. The rise in obesity has been a
topic that is concerning. There has been a steady increase in the rate of obesity in children under 19 due to
poor lifestyle choices such as lack of physical activity and fatty foods. Obesity is promoted by the
Jamaican notion that being fat is a sign of healthiness and wealth. However, obesity can lead to many
complications. The Holy Childhood High School Population will be the sample for all calculations
Research Question:
What percentage of the Holy Childhood Population is affected by Obesity?
Is the rate of obese children increasing or decreasing?

Aim: An investigate look of the percentage obese students or students close to the obese rate on a sample
of Holy Childhood High students, using the Body Mass Index Method
Hypothesis: At least 25% of the holy population will be Obese or Overweight using samples from 8 th
grade to 6th form.

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, obesity is a medical condition defined as
abnormal or excess fat that proves to risk the health of an individual. To measure obesity, the body mass
index (BMI) is used. This is a persons weight divided by the square of their height. A person with a BMI
of 30 kg/m2or more is consider obese whereas
persons with BMI equal to 25 or more can be defined
as being overweight.
Obesity is caused by an increase intake of foods rich
in energy and fat, lack of physical activity the most
common causes of obesity are overeating and
physical inactivity. Ultimately, body weight is the result of genetics, metabolism, environment, behavior,
and culture.
Obesity has risk factors such as: Stroke, cancer, including cancer of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, breast,
colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate. Breathing disorders, including
sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.
Gynecologic problems, such as infertility and irregular periods, Erectile dysfunction and sexual health

issues, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat builds up in the liver and can cause
inflammation or scarring, osteoarthritis, skin conditions, including poor wound healing
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 42 million infants and young children were
overweight and obese in 2013 alone and estimate that 70 million infants will become obese or overweight
in 2025.
Obesity in childhood can result in cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, disability and some types of
cancer.
Using BMI, obesity can be determined.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a persons weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height (kg/m 2). It
is the most common method to determine obesity. It is a cheap and harmless way of obtaining information
about weight. Using the BMI has its own limitations because the method is imperfect and does not
distinguish between body fat and lean
body mass. Obesity can be detected if the
Body Mass Index is 30kg/m2 or more.
The survey will begin by choosing a
sample ( randomly stratified) of girls from
the Holy Childhood population,
preferably, one hundred and forty random
students from each grade in the school.
The girls will be measure for their height
and their weight will be noted carefully.
From the data obtained from an survey the
Body Mass Index will be calculated.

Materials and Apparatus: A scale, meter rule, measuring tape.

Control Setup:
1. Select population sample for each grade. Maximum twenty students from each
class and one hundred and forty girls from each grade using a random stratified
sampling.
2. Randomly select all students participating in the lab so that there is no bias.
3. Measure weight of each girl using a scale.
4. Measure the height of each using the meter rule.
5. Some persons may wish to use the waist to hip ratio to calculate obesity.
6. When measuring the waist, measure at the navel for each girl to help in the
precision of results.
7. When measuring the hip, measure each girl from the widest part of her hip.
8. Calculate the BMI using the formula BMI=

Mass(lb)
HeightHeight () x703

9. Calculate the Waist to Hip ratio using the formula WHR=

waist
hip

10. From the data receive analyze and interpret the content and discuss the trends or
observations in obesity.

Limitations: Some students may not wish to participate in the survey, this should be
respected and a next girl must be chosen.
All the girls in the sample may not be at school on that particular day therefore it is
imperative that you make that a part of your limitations.
Some girls in the sample may be just recovering from an illness and this may affect
results.
Precautions: Ensure that the sample of girls, teachers, and anybody it may concern is fully aware
and informed about the survey.
Ensure each member of the group understands how to use to materials. For example
when using the measuring tape, some girls may put their thumb behind the measuring tape while
others will not. The thumb should be behind the measuring tape for everyone conducting the part
of the survey. Ensure that this is discussed and a consensus is drawn.

Expected Results : From conducting investigative research, it is expected that 25% of the Holy
Childhood population will be obese or overweight using samples from 8th grade-13th form.

Reference List

Campbell, J. (2014,April 27) Childhood OBESITY :Your HEALTH Your WEALTH. Retrieved
from the
Jamaica Observer Website: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/ChildhoodOBESITY_16537521

Jamaica Information Service (2014,September 7). Government Tackling Obesity. Retrieved

From the Jamaica Information Service website: http://jis.gov.jm/govt-tackling-childhood-obesity

Kelby J(2014, October 29) Childhood Obesity in Jamaica. Retrieved from the
We Jamaicans website: http://www.wejamaicans.com/childhood-obesity-jamaica/

Xuereb G,Johnson.P, Morris.A,Bocage.C,Trotter.P and Henry.F (2001) Obesity in Caribbean

Children: Its Magnitude and Current Control Efforts.Retrieved from
the University of the West Indies Website:
http://www.uwi.edu/opencampus/ccdc/downloads/researchpapers/obesity%20in%20caribbean
%20children.pdf

Grant-Davis,Carlene(2013,January) Managing Childhood Obesity. Retrieved from

The Jamaica Gleaner website:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130109/health/health4.html

Franklyn-Brown, Tendai(2008,July 7) Obesity high among young children. Retrieved from

The Old Jamaica Gleaner :http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080707/lead/lead2.html

The Jamaica Gleaner(2014,May 30). A third of the World Obese. Retrieved From
The Jamaica Gleaner website: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140530/int/int1.html

Sargeant, Lincoln A. Bennett, Franklyn, Forrester,Terrence.E. Cooper, Richard S and

Wilks,Rainford J(2012,September 6)

Predicting Incident Diabetes in Jamaica: The Role of Anthropometry. Retrieved from

The Online Library Website: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/oby.2002.107/pdf

Lise,Dubois. Francis,Damion. Burnier,Daniel, Fabiola,Tatone-Tokuda.(2011,March 31)

Household food insecurity and childhood overweight in Jamaica and Quebec: a gender based
analysis. Retrieved from:
The National Center for Biotechnology Information website:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078098/