Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?

TLDR

The obesity epidemic shows no signs of abating, and urgent action is needed to counter the environmental forces driving gradual weight gain in the population. National survey data indicate that shifting energy balance by 100 kcal per day—achieved through modest behavior changes such as 15 minutes of daily walking or slightly reducing portion sizes—could prevent weight gain in most of the population. Establishing a specific behavioral target for preventing weight gain may be key to arresting the obesity epidemic.

Abstract

The obesity epidemic shows no signs of abating. There is an urgent need to push back against the environmental forces that are producing gradual weight gain in the population. Using data from national surveys, we estimate that affecting energy balance by 100 kilocalories per day (by a combination of reductions in energy intake and increases in physical activity) could prevent weight gain in most of the population. This can be achieved by small changes in behavior, such as 15 minutes per day of walking or eating a few less bites at each meal. Having a specific behavioral target for the prevention of weight gain may be key to arresting the obesity epidemic.