Obesity is an essential health concern in the United States, where a significant share of adults and children have obesity. The main treatment methods for managing obesity and achieving a lasting weight reduction are diet and exercise. Research on exercise in overweight and obese adults is thus critical, as it provides insight into applying this method for weight management. The present paper will describe two research studies on exercise and obesity that use different research methodology and discuss the preferred choice of research style for future projects.
Benefits of Exercise for Obese Young Adults
The first study by Chiu et al. (2017) sought to determine the benefits that obese young adults gain from exercising at different intensity levels. The methodology of the study was quantitative and followed a randomized controlled trial framework. The participants were separated into four groups, including control, light, medium, and high-intensity. The participants of the control group followed their normal activity patterns, whereas those in the three intervention groups engaged in light, medium, or high-intensity exercise on a treadmill three times per week (Chiu et al., 2017).
The outcomes that were measured as part of the study included body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, and blood sample analysis. Using these methods, the researchers were able to determine the influence of different levels of exercise not only on the participants’ weight but also on their health and endurance. Statistical analysis of data was conducted to compare the results of the four groups.
The study showed that, after a 12-week intervention, medium and high-intensity exercise led to better outcomes in terms of endurance and body composition than low-intensity exercise. However, in the low-intensity exercise group, the results were still better than in the control group. On average, the participants in the high-intensity, medium, and light exercise group lost 6.73, 4.97, and 2.93 kg respectively, whereas those in the control group stayed at their initial weight or gained around 0.74 kg. Therefore, the research shows the importance of exercise to weight loss in obese young adults and the high comparative effectiveness of medium and high-intensity training.
Barriers to Physical Activity among Obese Women
The second study that was conducted by Adachi-Mejia and Schifferdecker (2016) was designed to explore barriers to physical activity among women with class I, II, or III obesity. The researchers included the women who enrolled in community-based physical activity and nutrition programs for vulnerable populations. The data collection methods involved taking measurements and administering a survey on barriers to physical activity. The survey included 15 standardized questions and one open-ended question to provide more insight into the data. The results were analyzed using a grounded theory approach and comparative data analysis, which means that the research used a mixed-methods style.
The results of the research involved responses from a sample of 78 adult females with a mean age of 52.8 (Adachi-Mejia & Schifferdecker, 2016). The analysis of the answered showed that for those with normal weight, the lack of time, energy, company, and facilities were the main barriers to physical activity. For obese women, on the other hand, the lack of self-discipline was the leading barrier. Those with class II or III obesity also indicated fear of injury and physical impairment as the factors preventing them from engaging in regular physical exercise. The research provides evidence that barriers to physical activity differ depending on people’s weight, and thus different approaches are required to promote physical exercise among people with different body mass.
Understanding Research Outcomes
I found the results of the randomized controlled trial on the benefits of physical activity easier to understand. First of all, there was a clear distinction between the groups involved in the research, which allowed comparing the results easily. Secondly, the structure of the research report was better, as it included more details about the interventions and the methodology. The researchers provided all the relevant information about the study, which also contributed to the process of interpreting its findings.
Future Research
If I had to complete a project on the topic of physical exercise and obesity, I would use a mixed-methods approach. Although the chosen mixed methods study offered weaker results than the randomized controlled trial, using this style could provide several benefits. On the one hand, mixed-methods studies can show clear results of a particular intervention through quantitative data collection and analysis. On the other hand, they also involve qualitative methods that provide insight into the participant’s perceptions and concerns. Obesity management requires long-term lifestyle changes, and thus collecting both quantitative and qualitative information on interventions is crucial.
Conclusion
All in all, the two chosen studies differed a lot in terms of the methods used to collect and analyze the results. The first study used a randomized controlled trial framework, which is considered to provide a high quality of evidence. The second study used a mixed-methods approach, which can also be beneficial in researching the topic of obesity interventions. Even though the results of the randomized controlled trial were easier to understand, I would use a mixed-method approach in future research projects, as it provides more insight into the participants’ perceptions of the intervention.
References
Adachi-Mejia, A. M., & Schifferdecker, K. E. (2016). A mixed-methods approach to assessing barriers to physical activity among women with class I, class II, and class III obesity. Public Health, 139(1), 212-215.
Chiu, C. H., Ko, M. C., Wu, L. S., Yeh, D. P., Kan, N. W., Lee, P. F.,… Ho, C. C. (2017). Benefits of different intensity of aerobic exercise in modulating body composition among obese young adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 15(1), 168-176.