A study research about

Teenage Obesity: A Growing Epidemic

A RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENT IN ENGLISH IV

Presented By:
DIANE P. PIMENTEL
IV-ST. MARGARET MARY

Presented To:
MS. MARY KRISTINE TUMAGAN
(English Teacher)

MOUNT CARMEL COLLEGE

BALER, AURORA
SY 2008-2009
 APPROVAL SHEET

This research paper entitled “Teen Obesity: A Growing

Epidemic” was prepared and submitted by Diane P. Pimentel in

partial fulfillment of the requirement in English-IV. It has

been examined & is therefore recommended for acceptance &

approval.

Recommended by:

_________________________
Ms. Mary Kristine Tumagan
(English Teacher)

Approved by:

__________________________
Mrs. Virginia G. Sacramento
(Principal)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 My deepest appreciation goes to my family who inspired me

while doing this research. To the people who in one way or

another help me get through with it. Especially Ms. Ritchelle

Gonzales whom I fondly call ate Yke, Mr. Edito Bihasa Jr.,

classmates and friends and my teacher in English IV, Ms. Mary

Kristine Tumagan.

The Researcher

iii

DEDICATION

This humble work is dedicated to my parents Jesse and Norina

Pimentel, my sister Olivelle Marie Pimentel and my brother Jesse

Pimentel II. They are the moving factors in my life. Their

selfless love and untiring support are my greatest motivation.

They are my inspirations in life. I also dedicate this work to

my close friends Sarah Joy Candelario, czarina Galendez, Joan

Rose dela Torre and Princess Joy Gusilatar. They are true

friends indeed.

The Researcher

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Approval Sheet
Dedication
Acknowledgement
CHAPTER I
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
 Statement of the Hypothesis
Importance of the Study
Scope and Limitations
Definition of Terms

CHAPTER II

Related Literature
FOREIGN
LOCAL

CHAPTER III

Methodology of the Study

CHAPTER IV

Presentation, Interpretation and Analysis of Data

CHAPTER V

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

Bibliography

Curriculum vitae

CHAPTER 1: The Problem & it’s Setting

INTRODUCTION:

As a teenager, peer approval is critically important. All

teens want to fit into a group of friends where they can feel

secure and a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, with today’s

emphasis on an ideal body image, overweight or obese teenagers

face constant stares, comments, and whispering that can

interfere with living a normal teenage life. Teenage obesity is

rising significantly not only in the Philippines but all

throughout the world. It is growing epidemic and it’s a terrible

thing. Watching teenager wobble around all day out of breath and

struggling to manage the stairs at school something no one

should ever witness. Obesity is a risk factor for several

diseases and it can lead to more serious problem in the end and

can be fatal that can cause even death.

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research entitled Teenage Obesity: Growing Epidemic

investigate the effects and how it can be treated.

1. What is OBESITY?

2. What is BMI?

3. What are the causes or factors of obesity?

4. How can we prevent or treat obesity?

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STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

This research work envisions proving the following findings of

facts about obesity :

• That obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has

accumulated to an extent that health may be negatively

affected.

• That obesity is a medical condition that affects children.

• That the primary treatment for obesity is dieting and

physical exercise.

• That obesity predicts burnout and the reverse-causation

hypothesis that burnout predicts obesity.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research attempts to determine the usefulness of the

topic, the result of study are beneficial to the following:

Teenagers- for them to be aware that obesity is not just a

simple problem, to know how to have a healthy and proper diet.

Students- because they must know that obesity can lead to other

serious disease.

Parents- for them to know what they can do if they have obese

child and how to give their children a proper diet.

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SCOPE & LIMITATIONS

The researcher was limit and conducted only the study about

Teenage Obesity in our economy, its effect and how we can

prevent or treat obesity, prior to the scope of my research, as

follows in the succeeding pages.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are defined operationally/conceptually for

the better understanding in the study:

• Obesity- it refers to an increase in total body fats

• Obese- overweight person

• BMI- Body mass Index

• Morbid obesity- a person that has either 50% - 100% over

normal weight, more than 100 pounds over normal weight.

• Body fats- consist of a wide group of compounds that are

generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble

in water.

• Diabetes Milletus- a syndrome of disordered metabolism,

usually due to a combination of hereditary and

environmental causes, resulting in abnormally high blood

sugar levels

• Hyperlipidemia- he presence of raised or abnormal levels of

lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood.

• Cholesterol- is a lipidic, waxy alcohol found in the cell

membranes and transported in the blood plasma of all

animals.
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• Coronary artery disease- is the end result of the

accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of

the coronary arteries.

• Cushing’s syndrome or hypothyroidism- is the term for

overactive tissue within the thyroid gland, resulting in

overproduction.

• Epidemic- disease which become widespread in a particular

place.

• Hypertension- abnormally high blood pressure in arteries

that may or may not be associated with observable organic

disorder.

• Diet- food and drink normally taken by an individual.

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CHAPTER 2: RELATED LITERATURE
FOREIGN

According to Dr. Kelly Brownell, PhD, an expert on American

diet and health, a study was conducted with the Pima Indians who

live both in Mexico and Arizona. It was found that those Pima

Indians who live in Arizona have much higher rates of obesity

than their counterparts in Mexico, even though both groups of

people have the same genetic and ethnic background. This is also

true for many migrants of the US who have a much higher obesity

rate than their relatives back home.

Americans have re-defined the word food. In the Webster's

dictionary food is any nourishing substance eaten, drunk, or

otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy,

promote growth, etc. In American society food is that which is

fatty, tasty, processed, refined and contains no nutrients; a

substance detrimental to the body's functions, creating disease,

and resulting in death. At no time in history have humans eaten

such refined, processed and fatty food and at no time in history

have humans had such an obesity epidemic.

Out of necessity, many obese people suffering from various

complications and diseases have learned to change their diet.

Those people, with determination and a will to survive, have

succeeded in becoming healthy once again. They have learned that

cutting out meat products, processed foods, fast-foods, high

sugar and high sodium foods, while incorporating whole grains,

vegetables, fruits and legumes into the diet is the only way to

return back to health. It is not easy to go against the strong

current of an unhealthy society but it is a necessity.

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LOCAL

According to Rosalyn Allyn G. Sy, obesity was barely

recognized as a problem in the Philippines in the early part of

the 90's; surely not because it is non-existent in this part of

the world but because doctors & other health providers show not
much interest in this issue. In 1994, the Philippine Association

for the study of Overweight and Obesity (PASOO) was organized to

address the growing global problem of this condition which has

been noted to affect the Filipino people.

One of the projects of PASOO was to look into the

prevalence of obesity in medical practice.

Through the generous grant & support from Servier, Philippines,

Dr. Augusto D. Litonjua, president of PASOO, together with the

officers and board of directors of the association was able to

ask the help of randomly selected 164 general practitioners

nationwide to participate in

our survey questionaire & project. A total of 1220 patients was

included in the study which extended from April 1996 to Dec.

1998.

Using the IOTF-WHO classification of obesity, the study

showed that the prevalence of obesity in medical practice in the

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Philippines is 21%, while 25% of consulting patients are

overweight. Unfortunately, only 4 % of the subjects included

consulted because of their weight problem & 96% consulted for

other reasons. For those who recognized their weight problem,

only 8 % of these subjects were doing something about it while

64% are not concerned and 28% did not give any answer.
 PASOO had started this nationwide project to create

awareness on the importance of this medical condition amongst

our health care providers. To complement this project, PASOO had

published some guidelines on weight management for its members

and non-members & interested in the care of obese patients.

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Chapter III
Methodology of the Study

This chapter presents the method used in the study. The

researcher used the descriptive method of research. She believes

that this method is the appropriate way in treating the problems

in this study.

Through thorough reading of books, encyclopedia,

researching through internet and other all printed materials,

the researcher gather all datas.

After all the datas are collected she analyzed, interpreted and

put it in her research paper.

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Chapter IV
Presentation, Interpretation and Analysis Of Data

1. What is OBESITY?

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has

accumulated to an extent that health may be negatively

affected. It is commonly defined as a body mass index (BMI).

2. What is BMI?

The body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a

statistical measurement which compares a person's weight

and height. Though it does not actually measure the

percentage of body fat, it is a useful tool to estimate a

 healthy body weight based on how tall a person is. Due to

its ease of measurement and calculation, it is the most

widely used diagnostic tool to identify weight problem

within a population including: underweight, overweight and

obesity.

3. What are the causes or factors of obesity?

Until recently, obesity was considered the result of a

sedentary lifestyle and the chronic ingestion of excess

calories. This may be the principal factor for many

individuals, but there is evidence of strong genetic,

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metabolic, and environmental influences, in the development

of obesity. Certain illnesses, such as Cushing’s syndrome

or hypothyroidism.

4. How can we prevent or treat obesity?

Successful programs for weight loss reduction and

maintenance should be started and followed under the care

of a physician and/or a nutritionist. A weight-loss program

may include:

• Exercise (the Surgeon General has called for 30 minutes of

physical activity on most days of the week)

• A low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate, high fiber diet

• Behavior modification to change eating behavior

 • Social support

• Medications

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Chapter V
Summary of the Study

Teenage obesity is a terrible thing. Obesity can weaken

physical health and well-being, and can shorten life expectancy.

It is a growing problem in teenagers mainly due to their

inactivity and diet. When children are born they imitate their

parent life, they eat what they eat and do what they do. Parents

need to set an appropriate example in front of their children to

save them from suffering from teenage obesity. Teenagers will

need all the support that they can get and hopefully in time

they can.
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Conclusion

After gathering the data the researcher conclude the

following:

• That obesity is a growing problem in our society and in

many societies worldwide.

• That the lifestyle of a person is one of the most common

causes of becoming overweight.

• That diet, lifestyle and exercise are the cornerstones of

current approaches to treating obesity.

• That parents should educate their teenagers by encouraging

a healthy diet and plenty of activity.

• That teenage obesity can also lead to depression in

teenagers.

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Recommendations
 The researcher would like to recommend the following:

1) The teenagers should have a right diet plan together with

regular exercise routine as the key to fight teenage

obesity.

2) The teenagers should have a slight change in lifestyle

and behavioral changes to help them improve their overall

health.

3) The teenagers should have a drug treatment for

individuals, especially those with other obesity-related

health conditions, who have failed to respond adequately

to dietary and behavioral modifications.

4) The teenagers should be encouraged not scolded by their

parents about their weight and they need to be assured

that loosing weight is a positive thing.

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Bibliography:

• Health and Home (2007-2008)

• Neill, Kweethai C. (2007). Diet of School-Aged Children.

Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z, pp. 13-16

 • “Childhood Obesity.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childhood_obesity.

• . “Hyperlipidemia.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperlipidemia

• Encyclopedia

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CURRICULUM VITAE

I.PERSONAL DATA

NAME: Diane P. Pimentel

Birth Date: November 14, 1992

Birth Place: Gloria Street Baler, Aurora

Father’s Name: Jesse P. Pimentel

Mother’s Name: Norina R. Palabay

II. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

School Year Graduated

Secondary Mount Carmel College 2009

Elementary Baler Central School 2005

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