And the list goes on...

By exploring the different issues around obesity in this assignment, I have started to realize the complexity of the problem and have begun to recognize the vast number of factors contributing to the epidemic. New research on this area is growing and is helping to guide interventions and strategies aimed at reducing risk factors for obesity. The two different stories below illustrate the variety of factors that increase unhealthy behaviors in our society.

It's Addictive:

A few weeks ago, the Edmonton Journal had a news story about  high fat foods leading to addiction. In it, the Journal described a study that explored the re-hardwiring of rat brains that led to their dependence on high fat foods. Dr. Valerie Taylor and her colleagues have explored addiction to certain components of food, where people develop tolerance to food, and require increased "dosage" to maintain satiety. According to Taylor, many of the characteristics of intake and withdrawal are consistent in certain individuals with other addictive substances. If you are looking for a more scientific explanation, it seems that high calorie foods may lead to down-regulation of dopamine D2 receptors linking them to addictive behaviours.

Broadening the search for the etiology of the obesity epidemic has helped Taylor and others develop new approaches and strategies. Although this is not true for the general population, for numerous individuals struggling with obesity, use of behavioral therapy, along with evidence and techniques that have been learned in dealing with other addictions can be applied in the treatment model for obesity.

H/t to Rohan Parab for pointing this out to me. Here is a movie coming up "Lbs" that follows two friends, one dealing with food addiction and another with crack.





Is it the gym teachers fault?

Did you have a bad experience in gym while growing up? In his research on early childhood experiences in physical education, Dr. Billy Strean found that up to 45% of kids were called names and teased during play time as kids. Many kids were excluded from physical activity and unvalued by teachers and coaches. These early experiences can have lifelong implications in the person's physical activity profile as an adult. Strean calls for an increased emphasis on developing skills, and making physical activity enjoyable and fun for children, rather than focusing on performance. Strean's research indicates that addressing and using educators to increase participation and sustainability of physical activity can have positive influences on reducing childhood and adult obesity in the future!