Changing Obesogenic Environments Presented by Lisette Manriquez

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). .

-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)

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)

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

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)

References Powell, P., Spears, K., & Rebor, M. (n.d.). What is Obesogenic Environment? Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/hn/2010/fs1011.pdf Jones, A., Bentham, G., Foster, C., & Hillsdon, M. (n.d.). Tackling Obesities: Future Choices – Obesogenic. Retrieved April 14, 2015, from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295681/07-735-obesogenic-environments-review.pdf3. ‘’Overweight and Obesity Statistics.’’ Overweight and Obesity Statistics. Web. Retrieved 5 May 2015.http://www.niddik.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/pages/overweight-obesity-statistics.aspx ‘’>>Obesogenic: The world, the Environment, the Controversy.’’ RSS. Web. 5 May 2015. http://calorielab.com/news/2008/03/16/obesogenic-the-world-the-environment-the-controversy/. www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/hn/2010/fs1011.pdf