Recorded presentation

Richard A. Forshee, PhD and Maureen L. Storey, PhD. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, 1101 King Street, Suite 611, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-518-2706, forshee@vt.edu

Overweight and obesity is a complex, multi-factorial condition. The direct cause of overweight/obesity is a long-term excess of energy consumption relative to energy expenditure-individuals gain weight if they consume more energy than they expend through physical activity and normal metabolic expenditure. However, diet and physical activity are part of highly complex social behaviors that are affected by individual, family, cultural, societal, and economic factors. The past few decades have seen major changes in all of these areas that affect the diet and physical activity of individuals. Opportunities for physical activity have decreased for both children and adults. Jobs, in particular, have become much more sedentary. At the turn of the century, farming was the most common occupation in the U.S. Today, farming and other manual labor jobs represent a much smaller percentage of the labor market. Studies suggest that much of the increase in overweight/obesity among adults can be explained by these trends in the labor market. Children also have fewer opportunities for physical activity. Many schools have reduced or eliminated physical education and recess, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented a decline in physical activity among children. This presentation will examine the relationship between diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and demographics and the trends in overweight and obesity.

Learning Objectives:

• Basic understanding of the state of the science concerning transportation, the built environment, and public health. Basic understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the currently available investigative methods. Basic understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the currently available data and findings.

Keywords: Genetics, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation