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Environmental Affects on Obesity?

18/03/09

Can Your Environment Affect Obesity?

People may make decisions based on their environment or community. For example, a person may choose not to walk to the store or to work because of a lack of sidewalks. Communities, homes, and workplaces can all influence people’s health decisions. Because of this influence, it is important to create environments in these locations that make it easier to engage in physical activity and to eat a healthy diet. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity 2001 identified action steps for several locations that may help prevent and decrease obesity and overweight.

The following table provides some examples of these steps.

Home:
* Reduce time spent watching television and in other sedentary behaviors.

*Build physical activity into regular routines.

Schools:
*Ensure that the school breakfast and lunch programs meet nutrition standards.

*Provide food options that are low in fat, calories, and added sugars.

*Provide all children, from prekindergarten through grade 12, with quality daily physical education.
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Work:
*Create more opportunities for physical activity at work sites.

Community:
*Promote healthier choices including at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and reasonable portion sizes.

*Encourage the food industry to provide reasonable food and beverage portion sizes.

*Encourage food outlets to increase the availability of low-calorie, nutritious food items.

*Create opportunities for physical activity in communities.