We focus more heavily on sedentary lifestyles and diets when addressing obseity because we find that is the easiest target audience to pinpoint. We see an obese individual as someone who has an issue with eating unhealthy foods and point to diet as the immediate cause. Although, there can be other factors that cause obseity such as environmental and parental factors. For example, if a child is accustomed to have an unhealthy diet at birth, they will eventually always eat unhealthy foods growing up. Again, preference and taste does affect a child’s psyche as well when it comes to overeating.
Environmental factors can also affect obseity. High energy/high fat foods, fast food consumption, television watching, "super-sized" portions, etc. can contribute to excess caloric intake and inadequate amounts of physical activity. We have to take into consideration. The many options that can contribute to high calorie intake. A big factor than can affect an individual and their diet is also the area they grow up in. If they are always around fast food chains, there is more temptation to grab that quick meal. Again it is about being health conscious and having self control with your diet. In order to combat obseity, there needs to be social policy changes, particularly in the areas of portion size, availability of healthful foods, and promotion of physical activity.
Yes to the need for policy! Many environments that individuals live in and experience environmental inequities in have historically been that way. I agree that it takes a large step, such as the introduction of public health policies to jumpstart the need for change in disadvantaged communities. Based on experience, communities of color tend to have less advocacy coming from the community members themselves, so with the support of public health policies, we can empower these communities to speak up for their needs.
ReplyDeleteHi Snay,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statements, "A big factor than can affect an individual and their diet is also the area they grow up in.In order to combat obesity, there needs to be social policy changes, particularly in the areas of portion size, availability of healthful foods, and promotion of physical activity." Unfortunately food deserts typical tend to occur in urban/ inner cities and affordable, healthy food options are limited. Policy change is required for all of communities to be safe and thrive for their best health outcomes.