Writer's choice Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Writer's choice - Research Proposal Example The development pattern of childhood obesity is similar to obesity in adults. In the past, questions have been raised over whether childhood obesity differs from obesity in adulthood. Research has shown that the definitive attributes of obesity are constant in all age groups. As children grow, fat cells multiply and when calorie intake outweighs expenditure, the number of fat cells increases. According to Farley & Dowell’s 2014 investigation, in the event that fat cells have attained their maximum size but calorie intake still outweighs expenditure, they (fat cells) continue expanding rapidly, leading to accumulation of fat in the body. This is what differentiates overweight children from obese children, although the two conditions are often confused. Fat loss results in a decrease in the size – not number – of the fat cells. Findings of a research conducted by Green (2013), show that there is a positive correlation between heightened levels of the hormone leptin and obesity. In research settings, leptin is commonly referred to as the â€Å"fat hormone,† the â€Å"obesity hormone,† or the â€Å"starvation hormone.† An increase or decrease in the amount of leptin secreted can affect calorie intake, calorie expenditure, and energy balance. For example, findings of a study conducted by Dawes (2014) reveal that obese children have higher blood leptin levels compared to those with normal weight because they have higher percentage body fat. Voigt, Nicholls & Williams (2014) conducted a study whose results suggested that obese children also exhibit resistance to the hormone in the same manner as type 2 diabetics show resistance to insulin. Their elevated levels of leptin mean that they cannot control hunger or their weight. On the other hand, obese children who lose weight experience a decline in blood leptin levels, leading to temporary declines in sympathetic tone, calorie expenditures in skeletal tissues, and thyroid