The Skinny on Obesity: A need for a comprehensive diagnostic of obesity beyond self and health variables to include social and environmental strategic drivers

The rapid increase in the number of obese adults and children in both developed and developing countries is alarming and will strain health resources in the future. A review of pertinent social and built environmental influences that contribute to the prevalence of this chronic disease is examined with reference to current literature. This paper explores the relationship between factors of the built and social environments that ultimately lead to the creation of obesogenic environments. Recognizing the importance of human interaction, coupled with genetic factors, with the built environment in addressing obesity is an important variable, the author argues that rather than evaluating obesity with a retrospective approach, a forward thinking approach in creating built environments which entice human action in the environment should be an ongoing premise in fighting obesity.