Extended Proposal

Attitudes to food and diet among UAE students

Introduction

The Research Problem

It has become an everyday trend to eat fast food when nothing else is available or even the if the

availability of some other food is present fast food is considered as the top priority. School going

children mostly depend on the fast food items. In schools children have less physical activities

and more class room learning is followed. At home children prefer to watch TV and play video

game which also reduces outdoor gaming. All of these things leads to child health issues in the

form of overweight and obesity.

Research Motivation

According to WHO, the total number of obese children all over the world are around 41 million

till the ending of 2016, the greater number of obese children are living in the developing nations

of the world(WHO, 2017). By WHO, it is estimated that this increasing number of obese and

overweighed children will exceed the limit of 70 million by 2025(WHO, 2017). In UAE the rate

of child obesity varies from age to age. National childhood obesity rate is 18.5%(WHO, 2017).

Similarly in USA the school going children have obesity at the rate of 14.8%(WHO, 2017). All

over the world the rate of obesity is getting higher because no proper attention is given to this

problem (WHO, 2017).

Literature Review

Children, particularly young children, are more unprotected against nature and effectively

harmed by an undesirable eating routine pattern. The power of obesity in grown-ups and

teenagers in developing nations has expanded extraordinarily in late decades, expanding the

danger of endless conditions, for example, heart illness, diabetes, and an essential supporter of

population weight pick up has been an expanded utilization of foods bought and arranged out of

home, for example, those from fast food cafeterias and grocery stores.(Yongqing Gao, 2014).

There is a very big alarm because obesity is a disease where it is widespread all over the world.
One reason could be many fast food restaurants are located all over the country. Eat healthy and
live healthy is one of the basic prerequisites for long life.

Significance of study

The study will be significant for the children of UAE, helping the parents to save their children

from the dangers of obesity and involving them in more physical activities to avoid the problems

at early age.

Purpose statement

The purpose of this study is to discuss the eating pattern of the students of UAE. As the research

question shows that this study will be focusing on knowing the eating behavior of the children of

UAE. Sometimes they like to share their food with others, they go out to eat fast food. Most

children do not pay attention to what they eat in regular days or they are not aware if that food is

healthy for them or not. So, a focus group study will be performed based on the mixed-method

research approach containing the survey as well as literature from different research.
 Structure of paper

The paper is organized in different steps. First step will be complete literature review based on

the pervious study and after that second step will consist of a survey designed for 200

participants (maximum) to ask different questions about the research problem. The participants

will include the mothers, teachers, nutritionists and food analysts.

Literature Map

Fast Food and changing lifestyle

Diabetes School role

Consumer Trends Parent’s role
in fast food ( Alsafar H., 2012)
(Erika Gebel, (Moser, 2017) ( Alsafar H., 2012)
2010
Wrong diet ).
plans

( Al-Kaabi M. J., 2016 ) Life style No activity

Home Problems
( Alsafar H., 2012)
( Alsafar H., 2012) entertainment
Unhealthy food
planning (Brownie S.et al , 2014)
(Boutayeb A. et al ,
2012 )
Environmental check
Eating habits No proper guidance
(Geer, 2014)
No outdoor (Diabetes in the Gulf ,
activity (Wax, 2015)
2015)
( Alsafar H., 2012)
(Brownie S.et al , 2014)

Improving life styles Eating pattern of Good diet

people

Methodology

• Quantitative methodology.
 • Quantitative research methods involving the collection of data from a representative

sample of the population and the statistical analysis of this data are best suited to achieve

these goals.

• The research strategy that I will adopt is survey research providing a numeric description

of trends found in the use of food in place of fruits among children.

Conceptual Scheme

Independent

Eating lifestyle of students

Dependent
+ H1

Physical activity and healthy

ATTITUDES TO FOOD AND
+H2 diet
DIET AMONG UAE

STUDENTS
Factors influencing to have
- H3 fast food

Age Gender Education

 Theory related to topic:

Theory of planned behavior will be used in this research as this theory best explains the fast

food, fast food consumption and behavior of the people which will be students in my research. I

will be using this theory to know fast food consumption and behavior of the students.

New sub-questions

 Why students are attracted towards the fast food more than the fresh healthy food?

 How fast food effects the daily activity of the students?

 Which factors influence the students to have fast food?

 How active lifestyle helps to prevent the obesity in students?

Hypothesis

 18.5% of the children in the world suffer from obesity because of wrong diet lifestyle followed by

them which mostly consist of fast food.

 Healthy diet and lifestyle which consist of physical activities bring many positive changes in the

daily routine of students.

 The attraction towards the fast food is increasing which is decreasing to have fresh and healthy food.
References
WHO. (2017). Facts and figures on childhood obesity. Retrieved from www.who.int:
http://www.who.int/end-childhood-obesity/facts/en/
Yongqing Gao, Y. H. (2014). Evaluation of Fast Food Behavior in Pre-School Children and
Parents Following a One-Year Intervention with Nutrition Education . Int. J. Environ.
Res. Public Health, 3-8.

Al-Amari, H. G. (2015). The Perception of College Students about a Healthy Lifestyle and its
Effect on their Health. Journal of nutrition and food .
BULL, A. (2018, May 7). UAE Teens Facing A Rise In Eating Disorders. Retrieved from
emirateswoman.com: http://emirateswoman.com/eating-disorders/
fast food. (n.d.). Retrieved from yourdictionary.com: http://www.yourdictionary.com/fast-food
G. Nurliyana, M. N. (2011). Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of University Students
Regarding the Use of Nutritional Information and Food Labels. Asian Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, 79-91.
LaMorte, W. W. (2018, August ). The Theory of Planned Behavior. Retrieved from
http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu: http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-
Modules/SB/BehavioralChangeTheories/BehavioralChangeTheories3.html
Musaiger AO, A.-M. M.-L. (2014). Risk of disordered eating attitudes among male adolescents
in five Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. international journal of eating disorder ,
898-900.
Musaiger, ,. A.-K.-M.-F.-D.-Q. (2016). Disordered Eating Attitudes Among University Students
in Kuwait: The Role of Gender and Obesity. International journal of pretentive medicine.
WHO. (2017). Facts and figures on childhood obesity. Retrieved from www.who.int:
http://www.who.int/end-childhood-obesity/facts/en/
Yongqing Gao, Y. H. (2014). Evaluation of Fast Food Behavior in Pre-School Children and
Parents Following a One-Year Intervention with Nutrition Education . Int. J. Environ.
Res. Public Health, 3-8.
Survey Questionnaire

Dear participant!

This study is planned by a student to increase the learning outcomes. The study is useful

in the course of “Research Project” Sociology Major, Department of Sociology, and College for

Humanity and Social Science at the UAE University.

The purpose of this study is to discuss the eating pattern of the students of UAE. As the

research question shows that this study will be focusing on knowing the eating behavior of the

children of UAE. Sometimes they like to share their food with others, they go out to eat fast

food.Most children do not pay attention to what they eat in regular days or they are not aware if

that food is healthy for them or not.

Feel free to ask any question regarding this survey or study. For further queries and

assistance you can ask by sending email to the specified email address_________

Your involvement in the survey is very important and this will promote the research culture and

main problem which are present in the UAE society.

Informed Consent
1. I support that I have read and understood the above information and have had the chance
to make reviews.
2. I understand that my partaking is cautious and that I am permissible to pull back at any
time.
3. I understand that information which I provide will be kept private and whenever
distributed, the information won't be recognizable as mine.

I agree to partake in this study:

(Signature of participant) (Date)
Questions:

1. Please specify your age in the space given below:

____________________
2. Do you like fast food?
 Yes
 No
 Only sometimes
3. How often do you eat fast food?
 Once in a week
 Twice in a week
 Once in a month
 Twice in a month
 Daily
4. From the list below, select which fast food you like the most:
Fast food item Mostly liked Do not like
Cheese burger(chicken/beef)
Pizza(all types)
French Fries
Pastas (all types)
Lasania
steaks (chicken/beef)
Rolls and pastries
Drinks and sodas
5. Do you think nowadays, our generation is more attracted towards fast food than
fruits and vegetables? Do you agree with statement?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Strongly disagree
 Disagree
 6. Diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure are linked with fast food. Is that true?
 Yes
 No
 There may be other reasons for diseases
7. On a scale of 1 to 10 define how important is fast food for you?
Very important Moderate important Not important

8-10 6-7 1-5

 Very important

 Moderate important

 Not important

8. Do you think fast food restaurants in UAE destroying the eating habits of young
school going students?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Strongly disagree
 Disagree
9. By eating fast food different problems starts in daily life routine. Mark yes in front
of the problem if you think it really happens:
Problems Happening yes Do not happen
Sleeping disorder
Physical inactivity
Weight gaining
Heart issues
Diabetes
Stomach issues
10. How much money do you spent on fast food on weekly basis? please specify the
amount in AED in space given below:
__________________
11. How do you like to have fast food?
  Home delivery
 Going by self to place
 Going to place and getting packed
 All of these
12. Do you think that number of places for fast food in your area in UAE should be
more?
 Yes, new places should be open
 No, there are already many places
13. At which hours you like to have fast food mostly?
 Lunch time
 Dinner time
 Brunch time
 Breakfast time
 Anytime
14. In your home do small children also eat fast food regularly?
 Yes, they do eat
 No, they do not eat
 Sometimes they eat
 They do not want it
15. What will you suggest for the students who loves fast food and do not believe in
healthy fresh diet? Please provide your suggestion in the space given below:
____________________________________________________________________________.