Fact:
Postulate:
The interrelation of individual behaviors, environmental factors and genetics contributes to the complexity of the obesity epidemic
Behavior x Genetics x Environment
The relationship is not represented by a summation but rather the product of the interrelationship of behavior, genetics and environment.
To gain a better understanding the behavior of the individual needs to be understood in the proper genetic and environmental context.
Over the last 30 years, the gene pool has not changed dramatically. Although, evolution is a constant, ever-dynamic system - Obesity cannot be explained simply by genetic tendencies.
Ethnicity is a very complex variable that is often misconstrued. Ethnicity is a self-identified variable and is often misunderstood at the fundamental level.
Rates of obesity are higher among some racial and ethnic minorities as well as among lower-income groups.
In 2006 (Jeffery et al) explains that FF is notably high in fat content and numerous studies have associated fast food intake with obesity.
Over the past 20 years, the percentage of calories attributable to FF consumption has increase from 3% to 12% of total calories consumed in the United States (Lin & Fasao, 1999).
WHY STUDY OBESITY?
It is unclear whether there is a higher presence of FF restaurants in poor and predominately African American areas.
There have been contradictory studies relating ethnicity and income to Fast Food.
Morland, Wing, Diez Roux, and Poole (2002) revealed NO CONSISTENT relationship between median home values and FF restaurants in the US.
In New Orleans, FF restaurants are geographically associated with predominately African American and low-income neighborhoods (2004).
Previous studies have shed little light on the relationship between fast food restaurants and obesity on the COMMUNITY level.
The relationship between fast food presence and obesity and the community level is ASSUMED but has not been confirmed.
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT LEAD TO OBESITY WILL PROVIDE A STRONGER BASIS FOR RATIONAL INTERVENTION.
Epidemiology is the study of epidemics - Obesity along with cigarette smoking are two of the biggest "epidemics" of our time. Public health and epidemic initiatives should focus more of their attention on upstream causes of obesity rather than the byproducts of obesity. Our focus must be on PREVENTION so we can be better prepared for the future.
Summary
Background
Discussion
Conclusion
Future
Selected References/Resources
- Over 32% of US Adults are currently obese (2007)
- Over 34% of US Adults are overweight (2007)
- Over the last 30 years - Obesity rates have TRIPLED
- US spending on FF restaurants has increased from $6B (1971) to over $110B (2001) (Schlosser, 2011)
Postulate:
The interrelation of individual behaviors, environmental factors and genetics contributes to the complexity of the obesity epidemic
Behavior x Genetics x Environment
The relationship is not represented by a summation but rather the product of the interrelationship of behavior, genetics and environment.
To gain a better understanding the behavior of the individual needs to be understood in the proper genetic and environmental context.
Over the last 30 years, the gene pool has not changed dramatically. Although, evolution is a constant, ever-dynamic system - Obesity cannot be explained simply by genetic tendencies.
Ethnicity is a very complex variable that is often misconstrued. Ethnicity is a self-identified variable and is often misunderstood at the fundamental level.
Rates of obesity are higher among some racial and ethnic minorities as well as among lower-income groups.
In 2006 (Jeffery et al) explains that FF is notably high in fat content and numerous studies have associated fast food intake with obesity.
Over the past 20 years, the percentage of calories attributable to FF consumption has increase from 3% to 12% of total calories consumed in the United States (Lin & Fasao, 1999).
WHY STUDY OBESITY?
It is unclear whether there is a higher presence of FF restaurants in poor and predominately African American areas.
There have been contradictory studies relating ethnicity and income to Fast Food.
Morland, Wing, Diez Roux, and Poole (2002) revealed NO CONSISTENT relationship between median home values and FF restaurants in the US.
In New Orleans, FF restaurants are geographically associated with predominately African American and low-income neighborhoods (2004).
Previous studies have shed little light on the relationship between fast food restaurants and obesity on the COMMUNITY level.
The relationship between fast food presence and obesity and the community level is ASSUMED but has not been confirmed.
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT LEAD TO OBESITY WILL PROVIDE A STRONGER BASIS FOR RATIONAL INTERVENTION.
Epidemiology is the study of epidemics - Obesity along with cigarette smoking are two of the biggest "epidemics" of our time. Public health and epidemic initiatives should focus more of their attention on upstream causes of obesity rather than the byproducts of obesity. Our focus must be on PREVENTION so we can be better prepared for the future.
Summary
Background
Discussion
Conclusion
Future
Selected References/Resources
- Morland K, Wing S, Diez Roux A, Poole C. Neighborhood characteristics associated with the location of food stores and food service places. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11777675 Am J Prev Med. 2002 Jan;22(1):23-9.
- Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser
- R W Jeffery and S A French. Epidemic obesity in the United States: are fast foods and television viewing contributing? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1508201/ Am J Public Health. 1998 February; 88(2): 277–280.
- Bodor JN, Rice JC, Farley TA, Swalm CM, Rose D. The association between obesity and urban food environments. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20458548 J Urban Health. 2010 Sep;87(5):771-81.
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