Social Components of the Obesity Epidemic

Abstract

Obesity represents an important public health concern and has negative health and social consequences. Epidemiological and observational studies have contributed to highlighting the multifactorial and complex etiology of obesity. Among the social components of the obesity epidemic the following appear to be the most relevant: assortative mating, parental age, socio-economical status and educational level, body dissatisfaction, sleep conditions, sedentary environments by build neighborhood, energy saving devices, work occupation and alcohol consumption. The assortative mating and parental traits (age, education level) have shown an important influence on the weight of children. In turn, sleep deprivation may reduce the energy expenditure and increase food intake, which can explain a relation with obesity. Body dissatisfaction in childhood and adolescence seems to increase the risk of obesity in adulthood. The low physical activity and spent sedentary time can be associated with unfavorably built environment, including low walk ability, unsafe playgrounds and pedestrian pathways. Moreover, the obesity per se, over time, may reduce physical activity level and social ability as well as influence in assortative mating, and subsequent intergenerational obesity condition. All findings together demonstrated that social components of obesity are as complex as itself. In summary, more studies concerning social, cultural and environment traits are needed in order to assess the effect of excessive adiposity in its own occurrence and chronicity. In addition, it is urgent to include obesity prevention as a relevant topic on the public health agenda in developing countries.

Stable intergenerational associations of childhood overweight during the development of the obesity epidemic

“…The difference may be influenced by several factors such as random variation, decline in non‐paternity across time, as well as aggregation of other external risk factors promoting the adiposity phenotype. Moreover, the prevalence of assortative mating by age 13 years was higher, and phenotypes had longer time to develop, which may also have contributed to the difference . Less likely is it that the upward OR trend reflects gene‐environment interactions, as no increase was observed in the resemblance with overweight mothers at 13 years.…”

Novel Functional Food Properties of Forest Onion (Eleutherine bulbosa Merr.) Phytochemicals for Treating Metabolic Syndrome: New Insights from a Combined Computational and In Vitro Approach

“…In nations with a low socioeconomic index (SDI), the prevalence of obesity in young males (ages [25][26][27][28][29] has increased at the highest rate [5]. This result can be attributed to a combination of changes in diet, a sedentary lifestyle, the food environment, and social-cultural influences [6]. To address this issue concretely, multifaceted strategies, such as promoting healthy eating, encouraging physical activity, regulating the food environment, healthcare intervention, community engagement, and policy advocacy, are needed at the individual, community, and policy levels.…”