Environmental Determinants of Obesity

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Kara I. Gallagher, Ph.D., FACSM
First published at www.MohrResults.com, August 2007

If you ask a geneticist how much of the obesity epidemic is due to genetics, he or she would probably tell you 70%. Pose the same question to a behaviorist and you would hear that genetics only explains about 30%. So which is it? Yes, it is true that scientists have identified certain genes that play a role in weight regulation and appetite; but it is unlikely there is much anyone can do to manipulate those genes. Aside from starting all over and picking different parents, the genetic explanation for obesity leaves us with little opportunity for change. As a behavioral weight loss proponent, I have a problem with that. However, lifestyle factors (behavior and the environment) also play a large role in causing people to be overweight and obese. The good news is that targeting lifestyle factors can lead to improvements in the prevention and treatment of obesity.

The Toxic Environment
It has been suggested that we live in a toxic environment for healthy behaviors. Automobiles, television, remote control, e-mail, moving walkways, escalators, elevators. riding lawn mowers, etc. all have contributed to decreased activity in this country. But motorized devices are only one part of the problem. Urban sprawl has led to smaller neighborhood divisions that are surrounded by major roadways lined with fast food restaurants, strip malls, and few continuous sidewalks or concern for pedestrian safety. And that's just targeting the activity part of the equation. Add to this, the mass marketing of high calorie, nutrient poor foods via television, internet, etc., fast food on every corner, and the perception that eating healthy is expensive and time consuming, and it's no wonder we have an obesity epidemic on our hands.

However, we can't just point fingers at the outside environment. Our behavior is determined by learned responses to cues in our immediate surroundings. Is your home encouraging a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle? Do you keep food in any room besides the kitchen?

Is there a snack drawer in the office or candy dish in the living room/family room? If you have any exercise equipment in your home, is it buried under clothes or boxes? Identify what behaviors you may have had a hard time changing and determine if there are cues present for those behaviors. For example, do you snack while watching TV, or every time you walk through the kitchen? Creating a Healthier Environment To overcome environmental and behavioral factors in your lifestyle, do some cleaning. Eliminate and reduce negative cues in your environment with positive cues.

Creating a Healthier Environment
To overcome environmental and behavioral factors in your lifestyle, do some cleaning. Eliminate and reduce negative cues in your environment with positive cues.

• In the kitchen, restock the refrigerator so you are faced with healthy options when you open the refrigerator door. Keep fresh cut vegetables, and yogurt on the top shelf and move high-fat, high calorie foods and leftovers to the bottom of the back shelf.
• Place a bowl of fresh fruit on the countertop in place of a candy dish or cookie jar.
• In the living room, keep exercise videos beside the television. Remove any clothes that may be hanging on exercise equipment and move the equipment to a more inviting location.
• Order a subscription to a health or fitness magazine
• Hang an exercise/diet calendar in a visible location and check off each day that you exercised and ate well. Seeing a month full of check marks can be a powerful reminder of your commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

We are influenced by our surrounding environment. That does not have to mean your environment dictates your behavior. Pay attention to what unhealthy cues you are responding to and clean house!