Research

Energy balance

Obesity is primarily driven by an obesogenic environment characterized by increased availability of low-cost, energy-dense foods and reduced physical activity, rather than solely by individual lack of self-control.

Focus on modifying your environment to support healthy choices. This means prioritizing access to fresh foods, reducing exposure to marketing of energy-dense processed foods, and integrating physical activity into your daily routine (e.g., walking, biking) rather than relying solely on willpower or extreme dieting. Advocate for community-level changes like safer sidewalks and healthier food options.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
There is an increasing consensus among obesity experts that changing the 'obesogenic' environment is a critical step toward reducing obesity. Reversing the factors described above that lead to increased caloric consumption and reduced physical activity would require major changes in urban planning, transportation, public safety, and food production and marketing.
B. Caballero · Epidemiologic Reviews · 2007

Why this rating

Based on a comprehensive review of epidemiological data, historical trends, and global surveys cited in the text.

Source

The Global Epidemic of Obesity: An Overview

B. Caballero · Epidemiologic Reviews · 2007

DOI 10.1093/epirev/mxm012

narrative_reviewCited 1,245×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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