1. Introduction

Childhood obesity is a serious public health concern that has increased in prevalence over the years. It is caused by an overconsumption of high-calorie foods and limited exercise. Today, it is estimated that over 18 percent of children in the U.S. are affected by obesity, as opposed to 1960 when the rate of childhood obesity was less than five percent. This means that today childhood obesity is the most common chronic disease in society, greatly affecting kids both physically and mentally. Research must be done on the prevention of obesity in children because these kids will suffer the effects of the disease for the rest of their lives, not to mention the cost of medical and related treatments. This is a serious problem that has fast-tracked children into becoming obese. It is especially prevalent as technology advances and becomes readily available to even young children. But what causes childhood obesity? Various reasons lead to childhood obesity, and many of them are preventable. Firstly, the most evident reason for obesity among children is unhealthy diets. Many foods that are readily available to them are full of sugar and fats, which are also high in calories. Secondly, childhood obesity has increased at an alarming rate because of how easily kids become addicted to TV and video games. Studies prove that the more TV a child watches, the more likely they are to get used to a sedentary lifestyle and therefore the more likely they are to become obese.

1.1 Definition of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is usually measured with the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated by taking a person’s weight in kilograms and dividing it by the square of the person’s height in meters. For children and teenagers, the BMI score is plotted on a gender-specific BMI-for-age growth chart. The BMI-for-age percentile shows how a child’s measurements compare with others of the same gender and age. If a child has a BMI above the 85th percentile and below the 95th percentile, he or she is considered overweight. A child is considered obese if he or she has a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. This accurate definition can be found on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s website. This definition provides a clear basis for identifying the children who may need medical or health intervention due to the risks associated with childhood obesity. This evidence-based and straightforward definition contrasts with the notoriously ineffective definition of obesity in adults, which is the simple accumulation of excess body fat. Under that definition, a judgment has to be made about how much excess fat constitutes obesity. The result is that hundreds of definitions exist. This is why the World Health Organization has so far declined to provide a definitive global definition for the term. Even though the symptoms of obesity in childhood and adulthood are similar, the diseases set in at different stages of life and require different interventions, yet another reason for having a precise definition for childhood obesity.

1.2 Prevalence of Childhood Obesity

Obesity is defined as having excess body fat due to excessive accumulation of large fat cells. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing more than what is thought to be a healthy body weight. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what is healthy for his or her height. However, there is evidence to suggest that the prevalence of obesity is increasing at an alarming rate, not only in the United States but throughout the developed world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2016), the prevalence of obesity worldwide more than doubled between 1980 and 2014. It is now estimated that over 41 million children under the age of five are overweight, and the WHO has further predicted that the figure will rise to over 70 million by 2025. Further figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that obesity in children over the last 30 years has more than doubled and has more than quadrupled in adolescents. Today, more than one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. These statistics help to show just how prevalent childhood obesity is and the scale of the problem that it poses to public health. Furthermore, research and official statistics show that certain groups of children are disproportionately affected by obesity, particularly those from low-income and underserved communities. The CDC (2015) states that children from low-income families are more likely to be obese compared to children from high-income families. This is a trend that is very worrying as research evidence suggests that these individuals are likely to suffer from worse obesity-related health issues over the course of their lives. As well as the significant impact it has on individual health and well-being, childhood obesity also has important implications for the economy and the overall stability of public health. For example, there is increasing pressure placed upon health services to identify and treat obese children with weight-related health issues. This has led to a growing body of evidence that suggests childhood obesity is causing feedback loops that will affect future generations.

1.3 Impact of Childhood Obesity on Public Health

The increase in childhood obesity rate is a particular concern because it is “a significant predictor of adult obesity” and is more related to the risk of adult mortality than obesity starting in adulthood. It is more attacking public health, as the physical effects of cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, bone and joint problems, and sleep apnea may create many complications in the lifestyle, due to limited mobility. Furthermore, in 2013 many reports pinpointed the socio-cultural effects that obesity in childhood will have on the psychology of an individual. Critics are suggesting a view that “overweight children see it as predetermination to obesity in adulthood” and may directly withdraw from exercise when other children comment on their size. This has created an ongoing debate, as some people argue that the “public spending would benefit from more early years workers to tackle weight problems in children”, whilst others support the idea of “mental health services targeted at children and adolescents”. As a matter of fact, by researching the physical and psychological effects together it can be concluded with confidence that psychological effects do increase by different levels of mental stress and many found that starting stimulating physical activities and exercises at an early age can reduce these stress. However, as public health has been placing more efforts on encouraging children to be involved in a variety of sports and exercises, there is a small population of children who have never been active and have no history of seeking physical activities, these will be at a high risk of a serious health effect in the next generation. Any individual, from the youngest to the old generation, will be affected by such radical health in their whole life. Therefore, this reflects that obesity is attacking public health as those physical and mental effects will not only decrease the potential lives of both now and adults but also raise the medicate cost, especially for the mortality directly caused by obesity, such as cancer.

2. Causes of Childhood Obesity

2.1 Sedentary Lifestyle and Lack of Physical Activity

2.2 Unhealthy Dietary Habits

2.3 Genetic Factors

3. Health Risks Associated with Childhood Obesity

3.1 Type 2 Diabetes

3.2 Cardiovascular Diseases

3.3 Psychological Effects

4. Socioeconomic Factors and Childhood Obesity

4.1 Influence of Advertising and Media

4.2 Food Insecurity and Limited Access to Healthy Foods

4.3 Socioeconomic Disparities in Obesity Rates

5. Prevention and Intervention Strategies

5.1 School-Based Programs

5.2 Parental Education and Involvement

5.3 Policy Changes and Regulations

Analysis of Costs and Revenues from Tournaments at Red Bluff Golf Course & Pro Shop

1. Introduction

The report titled “Analysis of Costs and Revenues from Tournaments at Red Bluff Golf Course & Pro Shop” aims to analyze the financial aspects of tournaments held at the Red Bluff Golf Course & Pro Shop. The report begins with an introduction, discussing the purpose of the report, providing background information, and outlining the scope of the analysis. With the rapid growth of the golf entertainment industry, many golf resorts and country clubs rely heavily on tournaments to increase traffic and revenue. Given that hosting a tournament requires shutting down a number of tee times and dedicating the entire course to the tournament, it is important to understand whether the revenues generated from the tournaments can compensate for the loss of the regular rounds of golf and the additional tournament-associated costs. Also, despite the rise of technologies in the recent years, many such businesses still use traditional methods – using pen and paper or Excel worksheets – to manage the tournament bookings and to analyze the financial results. This can lead to errors created by manual data input and limited efficiency in analyzing different scenarios. The purpose of this analysis is to quantitatively compare the costs and profitability of different tournaments at the Red Bluff Golf Course & Pro Shop, and to find out whether the revenues earned from the tournaments can cover the financial commitments of hosting them. The financial results of the year 2016 will be the main focus of this analysis. And the prices are assumed to stay constant throughout the year. Additionally, the report also discusses the possibility of automating the tournament management process by developing a new database and linking it to a customized spreadsheet, which would provide great convenience for the staff in the future.

1.1 Purpose of the Report

The primary objective of this report is to assess the financial success of golf tournaments held at the Red Bluff Golf Course and Pro Shop. More specifically, the report aims to quantify the impact of automation and cost-centered improvements to achieve precise and reliable tournament financial performance data. By carrying out the analysis, the management can identify the specific tournaments which are performing successfully or those which require any kind of managerial attention. In addition to quantifying the success of the tournaments, the report provides further insight by identifying the main sources of tournament revenue and compares the financial potential of the tournament to the performance of the golf course as a whole. Furthermore, the report demonstrates that with simple but effective automations, the financial performance of each tournament can be more accurately tracked over time and data can be analyzed more easily to make informed managerial decisions. The findings of the report not only serve to further justify a move towards more automation and system improvements but also demonstrate to the management the critical benefit of taking a more cost-effective approach when looking to provide food and drink at the tournament.

1.2 Background Information

“Red Bluff Golf Course is a medium-sized public golf course located in the Midwestern United States. The golf course is the centerpiece of the Red Bluff Golf & Country Club and consists of an 18-hole regulation course, practice areas, and a clubhouse with a pro shop. The surrounding area comprises mainly residential properties, and the clubhouse facilities are also open to non-golf members, offering a food and beverage service to the general public. The golf course is managed by a professional club manager and is open to the public with pre-arranged tournaments making up an important part of the customer base and revenue. The club employs a team of professionals including the manager, a head golf professional and his staff, and a team of greenkeepers and maintenance staff. During the main golfing season of April to October, the club is host to a variety of different tournaments, with the majority of tournaments being hosted by outside organizations and charities. The club has space in the tournament schedule to host six weekend and six weekday tournaments, and this report aims to analyze the costs and revenues associated with these tournaments. By undertaking the project, some potential questions can be answered. For example, what is the potential market for creating additional tournaments? What is the financial performance of each tournament? Which are the most profitable tournaments and why? By answering these questions, the senior management can consider the financial viability of introducing further tournaments and allocating specific tournaments to the golf professionals. Additionally, it can be analyzed if a different pricing strategy for tournaments could be more efficient for the golf club.”

1.3 Scope of Analysis

The type of analysis that will be conducted is a cost-revenue comparative analysis of tournaments. On the cost side, a classic “economic cost” approach will be used where fixed and variable costs in the short run will be taken into account. This is because tournaments, from a little research that has been carried out earlier, are the major revenue drivers for the golf course. On the other hand, revenues generated from the last three tournaments including the ongoing one are going to be compared and analyzed. From such kind of data and the consequent analysis, it is expected that concrete recommendations for the management of the course will be devised. Moreover, there is a likelihood that there might be a practical application, that is, the development of a computer-based analytical tool, something which will form the basis for a second phase of the project. Logical findings of the analysis will be discussed in light of current economic theory and the golf course management practices especially those touching on revenues from tournaments. In addition, various data collection and analysis challenges that have been met in the course of the project will be discussed to give an insight of what it actually means to do research and analysis using the many spreadsheet tools that are available because of the advances in information technology. On the other hand, the practical use of the theoretical concepts that are used in the analysis can be demonstrated through comparison with actual results from the data analysis.

2. Data Collection and Standardization

2.1 Overview of Data Collection Process

2.2 Importing Data into the Golf Database

2.3 Standardizing Data for Analysis

3. Accuracy and Reliability of Previous Reports

3.1 Challenges with Manual Data Entry

3.2 Potential Errors and Inconsistencies

3.3 Impact on Decision Making

4. Designing an Automated Spreadsheet

4.1 Requirements and Objectives

4.2 Utilizing the Golf Database for Automation

4.3 Creating Data Extraction and Transformation Tools

5. Analysis of Tournament Costs

5.1 Cost Categories and Components

5.2 Calculation of Total Costs

5.3 Identifying Cost Drivers

5.4 Cost Comparison between Tournaments

6. Analysis of Tournament Revenues

6.1 Revenue Sources and Breakdown

6.2 Calculation of Total Revenues

6.3 Assessing Revenue Generation Strategies

7. Performance Evaluation and Recommendations

7.1 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

7.2 Evaluation of Profitability and ROI

7.3 Recommendations for Improving Financial Performance

1. Introduction

On the other hand, the phrase “body image” refers to a person’s internalized sense of their own physical appearance. Body image is not only determined by visual perceptions, but it is also constructed by individuals’ feelings, beliefs, and attitudes about their own physical appearance. Positive body image can be understood as acceptance and appreciation of one’s own body. However, in today’s sociocultural context, where there is a prevailing “thin ideal”, a large majority of people, especially women, experience body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction refers to a person’s negative thoughts and feelings about their own body and appearance.The term “eating disorder” refers to a group of medical conditions characterized by unhealthy and abnormal eating habits. The most common forms of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders often coexist with other psychiatric conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. In addition, eating disorders can also result in physical health problems, such as heart conditions, electrolyte imbalances, and digestive problems.

1.1. Definition of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake, to the detriment of a person’s physical and emotional health. The most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is marked by low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight and body shape. Individuals with this disorder may use extreme behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and then compensating by purging, as well as a lack of control over such behavior. Binge-eating disorder is marked by frequent periods of eating large quantities of food, often very quickly and to the point of discomfort, as well as a lack of control over these episodes. Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge-eating episodes are not followed by purging. These conditions can have very serious effects on the body and mind, including the risk of osteoporosis from excessive weight loss and electrolyte imbalances that can lead to heart problems and actually cause sudden death, in the case of anorexia nervosa. People with anorexia nervosa may have a variety of signs and symptoms, including inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low, a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight, intense fear of gaining weight or being fat, and a distorted body image. Body dysmorphia refers to a psychological condition that may occur in individuals with eating disorders. Body image and its effects are key issues in eating disorder research, and indicating a variety of body image disturbances may be pivotal in investigating these conditions. Predisposing factors to developing eating disorders include body dissatisfaction, internalization of the thin ideal, especially for females, pressure to be thin, aesthetic and social comparison, and fear of fatness. The role of cultural and ethnic differences in the development of eating disorders is further considered. In particular, the impact of globalization on eating and body image is reflected in the way in which the media is becoming an important influence of ideas about health and weight. Theoretical models have been developed to show the various complexities of body image and its effects. These centers on the internalization of the thin ideal, the media’s role in providing this ideal and its effect, alongside the consequential social comparisons that result. Populations in developing countries, particularly the islands of the Pacific Ocean, have been seen to illustrate how the perception of the thin ideal can sway depending on the impact of globalization. However, researching in this area also involves following a patient’s recovery between the two health issues. Physical consequences and risks to the body must be weighed up and offset by psychological benefits. This suggests that a fuller recovery may be possible when treatments acknowledge and assess both the physical and mental effects of body image disturbances. Such a holistic approach may offer great insight into the fundamental relationship between mental and physical stress and pain in those suffering with eating disorders. It may also illuminate the research into body image among clinically non-eating disordered populations and explore exactly what elements of body image has the most bearing on the actual pathology of eating disorders. It is claimed that this sort of research may assist in both the prevention and the treatment of eating disorders, so the split between physical and psychological treatments could be narrowed and provide a more effective treatment to those in need.

1.2. Importance of Body Image

Therefore, it’s vital for us to realize that we should not judge people by their weight and appearance, especially in an era where societal beauty is thrown around so timely. The mental and physical health of people deserve more care and respect than being downgraded for their inherited body shape.

Many researchers approve that body dissatisfaction is the major contributing factor to the development of eating disturbances. As Cash and Deagle’s findings suggest, people who have higher socio-cultural pressure, are more invested in the thin ideals, and report a greater desire for thinness are likely to have more serious eating disorders. Kasey Serdar also stated in 2008 that there was a study reviewed for 14 years on media exposure, peer and parent attitudes, and physical appearance in over 1000 American girls, and the results showed that all three dynamic social environmental factors were associated with body dissatisfaction.Recent studies show significant body dissatisfaction and eating disturbances among males after viewing the objectified muscular ideal. This suggests that exposure to these images may harm men’s body image and increase the risk of them having eating disorders as well. This information can also be found in the studies done by Tylka and Augustus-Horvath in 2011; both studies show similar results of the correlation between exposure to such images and men’s inner desire for the ‘ideal’ body shape.Kasey Serdar, a public health researcher, analyzed the influence of the media in 2008 and its relation to body image. The analysis shows that teenage girls’ shows are highly favored by American children and are the main promoters of the thin ideal. It’s no doubt that the majority of people believe the pressures are more on women, but studies have shown that the number of men with eating disorders has increased over 270% since 1994 till now.When a person is constantly being brought attention to the ‘ideal’ body shape and the societal standard of beauty for perfection, the risk of eating disorder development increases. Meers also found that body comparison, which means social comparison based on physical appearance, is one of the ten predictors of why people feel bad about themselves. Media, one of the biggest factors influencing body image, sets nearly impossible standards for beauty.Body image is essential to our self-regulation and behavior, especially for those who suffer from eating disorders. Carola and her fellow researchers emphasize its importance in their studies about body image and its psychological impact. There was a study in which the researchers asked 3,276 Americans to complete an online survey, and the results were remarkable. As the study revealed, 65% of the American population would be considered overweight, while 93% of the media exaggerates thinness as a desired body shape. The study concluded that body image discrepancy is one of several contributors to eating disorders.

2. Factors Contributing to Body Image Issues in Eating Disorders

2.1. Societal Pressures and Media Influence

2.2. Psychological Factors

2.3. Cultural and Ethnic Influences

3. Impact of Body Image Issues on Eating Disorders

3.1. Reinforcement of Disordered Eating Behaviors

3.2. Distorted Perception of Self

3.3. Increased Risk of Relapse

4. Psychological Mechanisms Linking Body Image and Eating Disorders

4.1. Body Dissatisfaction

4.2. Body Comparison

4.3. Body Idealization

5. Treatment Approaches Addressing Body Image Concerns

5.1. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

5.2. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

5.3. Body Image Exposure Therapy

5.4. Body Acceptance and Self-Compassion Practices

6. Strategies for Promoting Positive Body Image in Eating Disorder Recovery

6.1. Encouraging Self-Acceptance and Self-Love

6.2. Challenging Societal Beauty Standards

6.3. Building a Supportive Network

6.4. Engaging in Body-Positive Activities

7. Conclusion