1. Changing Obesogenic Environments
Presented by Lisette Manriquez

2. The Obesogenic Environment
An obesogenic environment is an environment that promotes and produces weight gain and obesity through various mechanism.
The obesogenic environment includes:
Decreased physical activity
Promotion of energy-dense foods
Overweight people
Media Manipulation
Biological predisposition
Social Discrimination
‘’An obesogenic community has unsafe walking paths, i.e. cracked sidewalks, unkempt parks and/or limited recreational opportunities, residents are less likely to engage in leisure time physical activity.’’ (University of Nevada). .

4. -Why should we care?- Obesity- having too much excess body fat that it
increases/causes the risk of health problems.
1. More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight/obese.
2. About one-third of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be overweight or obese.
3. Almost 74% of men are considered to be overweight or obese.
(National Institute of health)

5. Health Risks
Obesity is a major health risk that can cause complications like:
Type 2 diabetes (Insulin resistant)
Hypertension / High blood pressure
Strokes (Plaque accumulation  blockage of blood flow)
Respiratory complications
Sleep Apnea (Problems breathing during sleep)

6. Consequences of an Obesogenic Environment
Obesity:
Heart disease & stroke
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Psychological distress:
Depression  Disordered Eating
(Example: Binge eating, purging, anorexia)
Social discrimination:
Verbal abuse (Ex: Teasing)
Physical abuse (Ex: Pinching)
Limitations (Ex: Lack of accommodations)
Malnutrition:
Being overfed (Ex: Empty calories confuse metabolism)
Undernourished (Ex: Lacking essential/sufficient nutrients)

7. Prevention: Changing the Obesogenic Environment
Ways we can prevent and change our obesogenic environment:
Continue to intervene in schools: Teaching students how to eat healthy & its importance.
Regulate the advertising of junk food: Not exposing & glamorizing unhealthy food as much would decrease the subconscious/subliminal influences consumers receive.
Impose a ‘’Sugared Beverage Tax’’: Junk food is notorious for its cheap prices, increasing the price would make it less likely for people to want to purchase as much.

8. Changing the Obesogenic Environment
Continue to intervene in schools: Teaching students how to eat healthy and its importance.
Emphasizing the importance of reading
food labels.
(b) Spreading awareness about how
advertisements can be deceiving
(c) Demonstrating healthy lifestyle choices
(d) Serving food at school that is high in
nutrient density.

9. Changing the Obesogenic Environment
2. Regulate the advertising of junk foods: Not exposing & glamorizing unhealthy food as much would probably decrease the amount of purchases.
Children ages 8 to 18, consume multiple types
of media and spend about 44.5 hours per week
in front of a computer, television, and other
screens. Research has found strong associations
between increases in advertising for junk food
and rates of obesity.
(American Psychological Association)
Limit/cut back on the amount of media exposure
Advertise healthier foods
Set a limit on the amount of junk food that is advertised on a daily basis

10. Changing the Obesogenic Environment
3. Impose a ‘’Sugared Beverage Tax’’: Junk food is notorious for its cheap prices, increasing the price would make it less likely for people to want to purchase as much.
Implementing a tax on sugared beverages would make it less affordable for people to purchase such items
It would force people to have to purchase other items that are healthier
These items would no longer be purchased as much.

11. Counterarguments
‘’The fundamental question raised by the ‘’obesogenic society’’ concept is, of course, whether it is valid, or just another realization, whether obesity is in fact beyond the overweight individual’s ability to control, or the result of the conscious decisions made every day. Where does the responsibility for all this accumulating fat actually lie?’’ (CalorieLab News)
‘’Changes to the environment alone are unlikely to solve the problems of increasing obesity and declining physical activity levels. A better approach is likely to involve complementary strategies addressing individual, social and environmental factors.’’ (Government office for Sciences)
‘’You can blame the parents who don’t have the means, the time, or the
Knowledge to overcome this environment surrounding their children.’’
(Cato-unbound Journal)

12. References
Powell, P., Spears, K., & Rebor, M. (n.d.). What is Obesogenic Environment? Retrieved April 14, 2015, from
Jones, A., Bentham, G., Foster, C., & Hillsdon, M. (n.d.). Tackling Obesities: Future Choices – Obesogenic. Retrieved April 14, 2015, from
‘’Overweight and Obesity Statistics.’’ Overweight and Obesity Statistics. Web. Retrieved 5 May
‘’>>Obesogenic: The world, the Environment, the Controversy.’’ RSS. Web. 5 May 2015.