Describe Critical Appraisal Of Research Literature

Critical Appraisal of Research Literature
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Critical Appraisal of Research Literature
In Europe, the highest obesity rates are in the United Kingdom. Statistics suggest that currently over 20% of the UK population is now obese and this costs the government around €3 billion annually (Jackson, Beeken & Wardle, 2015). In England the high prevalence of obesity among males is alarming, statics argue that 40% of the males in the country are overweight while 20% of that figure are obese. Ladies, on the other hand, register a high number in the number of overweight people but register a low number in obesity (Ulijaszek & McLennan, 2016). Obesity has severe health repercussions (Law, Power, Graham & Merrick, 2007), and it can be tackled in several ways. This paper will deliberate on the article (Randomized Controlled Trial Of Four Commercial Weight Loss Programmes In The UK: Initial Findings From The BBC "Diet Trials" in BMJ: British Medical Journal) which looks into ways that can be used to reduce obesity in the country and their effectiveness. As a matter of fact, this paper is a critical appraisal of the article. The paper will use the CONSORT 2010 CHECKLIST guideline when assessing the article. Moreover it will use additional sources to compare facts just like stated in the CONSORT 2010 CHECKLIST. The CONSORT 2010 CHECKLIST requires authors to provide methods used to get the facts (Schulz, Altman, & Moher, 2010).
Just like the title suggests, the research article compared four common forms of losing weight to see which one was the best fit. The four are the most common forms of losing weight in the United Kingdom. They include the slim fast plan, Weight Watchers pure points program, Dr Atkins new diet revolution and the eat yourself slim diet and fitness plan by Rosemary Conley ("Randomised controlled trial of four commercial weight loss programmes in the UK: initial findings from the BBC "diet trials"", 2006). The paper will analyse each plan, look at its effectiveness and offer a critique of why it does not work or why it takes long to work. Participants for the sake of this research were reached through an advertisement on BBC, and they came from the following institutions; Queen Margaret University College, Nottingham University, Bristol University and Surrey University. Additionally, the participants had to be between 18 and 65 years old with an exclusion on those suffering from chronic illnesses. In the Paper the ANOVA style of comparing samples has been utilized. The ANOVA style is used to compare the means of many samples that is more than two samples.
Slim-fast plan
Slim-fast is a brand that specialises in the sale of shakes, snacks, packaged meals and other dietary products sold in several countries around the world including the UK, US and Ireland. Products of this brand are mostly associated with dietary and weight loss hence the slim-fast plan can be described as a meal replacement approach. It is whereby people who are interested in losing weight change their usual daily dietary routine and stick to products from that particular company (Cowen, 2003). When tested in the research the plan proved to work in weight reduction. During the research, the participants received a reimbursement of two meals in a day. This is an effective plan for people who are obese and want to lose weight, but it also has its disadvantages. The ingredients used to manufacture the foods might have an allergic reaction with the body of the patient. According to a recently concluded research, allergic reactions are on the rise. Moreover, the ER in UK hospitals receive two times the number of allergic reaction cases than they used to a decade ago (El-Sayed, Scarborough & Galea, 2011). The number of deaths because of allergic reactions has also increased significantly, and this is a call for alarm. Even though results from the research show that the foods are beneficial and can contribute to weight lose, it is crucial for those taking the foods to look at the ingredients to see if they are allergic to any of the products used to manufacture the foods (Hilton, Patterson & Teyhan, 2012).
Weight Watchers pure points’ program
It can be described as a diet that is based on controlling diet and is backed up by a weekly meeting. Unlike in slim-fast here, there are no outside products allowed people are encouraged to cook their meals at home. The plan is also backed up by an application which has over 200,000 recipes for users to utilize (Kahan & Osborn, 2013). Participants in this category were allowed the most convenient class and were reimbursed the cost of attending one class weekly. Parents and the companies were required to sign a contract agreeing to provide standard care. The most noticeable difference between weight watchers and other programs is the fact that this plan allows people to eat what they want as long they keep track of. If somebody is used to eating what they want, tracking it and losing weight using smart points, there are going to get complications long the way especially is what they wanted was sugar (Heyes, 2006). One participant during the research claimed that the plan was too restrictive. She added that she acknowledged the fact she recognised the presence of sugar-free methods, but at times the urge is too strong to resist. She also claimed that she could not spend $45 monthly for a program that she cannot adhere to. This shows that the program is a bit expensive for the average individual.
Dr Atkins' new diet revolution
This is a self-monitored plan on the low consumption of carbohydrates. It has been described as the celebrity-friendly di...