Obesity & Atopic Disorders in Chinese Adults
In actuality, the problem of the development of atopic disorders is one of the major challenges for health care professionals because cases of such disorders become more and more frequent, whereas roots of those disorders are not always clear (Zhou, 2002). At this point, it is possible to refer to the study conducted by Xiao Luo and other researchers (2013) Association between obesity and atopic disorders in Chinese adults: an individually matched case–control study, which reveals the possible correlation between atopic disorders and obesity. The study conducted by Luo and other researchers (2013) is important in terms of the revelation of the possible correlation between atopic diseases and obesity since obesity is a renowned risk factor for the development or aggravation of many risk problems, but its impact on atopic diseases has remained under-researched so far. Nevertheless, in spite of a considerable contribution of the re searchers (Luo, et al, 2013) into the study of atopic diseases and obesity, the findings of the study still need further expansion and more scientific evidence to back up the rightness of conclusions made by the researchers.Obesity & Atopic Disorders in Chinese Adults
On introducing the problem of the study, the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) -develop their hypothesis that implies that obesity may be a risk factor that may trigger the development of atopic diseases (Wu, 2006). The researchers develop their hypothesis and try to test it in the course of their study. The hypothesis made by the researchers determines the research design as well as methods selected by the researchers. At the same time, the problem raised by the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) is very important and up-to-date because atopic disorders become more and more frequent, while their causes are unclear and methods of treatment are not always effective (Chen et al., 2010). The growth of atopic diseases is a serious challenge to the public health because traditional methods of treatment of diseases, such as dermatitis and rhinitis do not work effectively in case of their atopic manifestations (Wang, 2005). This is why the study of obesity and atopic diseases conducted by Luo and other researchers (2013) could help to understand atopic diseases and their causes better as well as to assess risk factors that could influence the development of such health issues.Obesity & Atopic Disorders in Chinese Adults
However, the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) do not provide the extensive literature review to the subject of their study. In fact, they virtually ignore other studies conducted in this field that raises the question concerning the uniqueness of their study and relevance of its findings compared to the other studies that have already been conducted in this field (Weinmayr et al, 2010). In fact, the lack of the literature review and critical evaluation of previous studies makes the audience question the reliability of the study and its relevance since it is unclear whether the problem identified by the researchers is really worth studying as well as reasons for studying this problem are unclear too, unless the researchers provide references and critical evaluation of other studies, which have been already conducted in this or similar fields.
The methodology of the study involved the random selection of adult Chinese people with obesity, who have symptoms of atopic disorders. The researchers studied the participants and attempted to reveal the correlation between obesity and atopic disorders. The researchers involve male and female adults, who have obesity and experience atopic diseases’ issues. The researchers conduct the statistical analysis of the occurrence of atopic diseases in the sample population, which have obesity problem. In such a way, they attempt to reveal the possible correlation between obesity and atopic diseases. They study specific allergens and their occurrence in participants with obesity as well as their effect to determine whether participants have atopic diseases or not.Obesity & Atopic Disorders in Chinese Adults
The results of the study reveals that Chinese adults with obesity are likely to develop atopic disorders, obesity is significantly associated with atopic dermatitis and rhinitis, although the researchers have not found a strong correlation between obesity and atopic asthma. In such a way, the results of the study prove the hypothesis partially. Initially, the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) suggested that obesity does have impact on the development of atopic diseases but they found out that obesity triggers the development of atopic dermatitis and rhinitis mainly, while its impact on the development of atopic asthma has not been clearly revealed by the researchers.
Furthermore, the discussion section of the study conducted by Luo and other researchers (2013) presents the detailed analysis of findings and their implications. The researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) admit that the correlation between obesity and atopic diseases is very important in terms of the prevention of these health issues because the prevention of obesity may potentially decrease the risk of the development of atopic diseases. Such implications derive from the background of the study and the current development of atopic diseases along with the fast progressing obesity of the population of some countries. The adequate of risks associated with both health issues may help to tackle them successfully, while the conducted by Luo and other researchers (2013) contributes to the better understanding of these issues and the correlation between them.Obesity & Atopic Disorders in Chinese Adults
However, findings made by the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) are not enough to make the definite conclusion on the correlation between obesity and atopic diseases. For example, Luo and other researchers working on the study (2013) admit that obesity does not relate clearly to atopic asthma and obesity does not necessarily increases the risk of atopic asthma, while obesity may potentially trigger the development of other atopic diseases. The researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) cannot explain such a difference and disparity in the possible impact of obesity on atopic diseases. Therefore, further studies in this field are needed and the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) admit the important of such studies in the future to obtain more data on the correlation between and the impact of obesity on atopic diseases.
At the same time, the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) are aware of certain limitations of their study that reveals their critical evaluation of findings of the study as well as of the study design (Fitzpatricket al, 2012). For example, Luo and other researchers (2013) admit that they used the BMI to diagnose obesity in participants but they have failed to distinguish the central obesity from peripheral one, while this issue could be an important factor that influences outcomes of the study (Asher, et al., 2006). Another important issue and a significant limitation of the study is the small sample population selected by the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013). In fact, the small sample population raises the risk of inaccuracy and possible generalizability of findings made by the researchers.
However, the major dilemma of the study is the found correlation between obesity and two atopic diseases, namely atopic dermatitis and rhinitis, which contrasts to the lack of such evident correlation between obesity and another atopic disease, namely atopic asthma. The researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) cannot give any plausible explanation to the found difference in the impact of obesity on atopic diseases and their development. They (Luo, et al, 2013) just suggest conducting further studies in this field. At the same time, the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) intentionally or not omit another important limitation of the study. To put it more precisely, the researchers selected Chinese participants only.
In addition, there was no control group involved into the study. To put it more precisely, the researchers (Luo, et al, 2013) could expand the participant population of the study and include people without obesity to find out whether they have atopic diseases and how frequently those diseases occur in the control group compared to the sample population selected for the study. For example, it is possible to presuppose that the occurrence of atopic diseases in the selected sample population is similar to the average occurrence of atopic diseases in the non-obese population that still suffers from atopic diseases.Obesity & Atopic Disorders in Chinese Adults
Thus, the study conducted by Luo and other researchers (2013) is definitely important in terms of the revelation of the correlation between obesity and atopic diseases, but the study has substantial limitations and pitfalls, which may question the reliability and validity of the study. The overall study of the sample population is concise and extensive, but the researchers have selected the small sample population. Moreover, their study design and methodology may be biased in a way because the study involves Chinese adults only, while the involvement of other ethnic groups or age categories may bring different outcomes. Hence, what is definitely clear is that there is a possibility of the correlation between obesity and some atopic diseases, but further studies in this field are needed to obtain more data on the subject of the study and reveal other relevant facts concerning obesity and atopic diseases.Obesity & Atopic Disorders in Chinese Adults