Читать книгу Clinical Obesity in Adults and Children - Группа авторов - Страница 43

In the United States, the prevalence of obesity continues to increase among adolescents and adults, although it is declining among 2‐ to 5‐year‐olds and has stabilized among 6‐ to 11‐year‐olds [4,31]. Around the world, no country is on track to meet global targets of halting the rise in obesity [10]. Given the strong association between obesity and COVID‐19 [13], there is more urgency now than ever to address the growing prevalence of obesity. To tackle obesity at the population level, social determinants of weight gain must first be addressed. In high‐income countries such as the United States, this will involve addressing poverty, unhealthy cities that are not conducive to active transport or outdoor exercise, and unhealthy food environments that promote the consumption of ultra‐processed foods. It will also involve addressing cultural drivers such as individualism, which blame individuals rather than the contexts in which individuals live. There are early signs that obesity is plateauing in certain population subgroups, particularly young children, where many prevention efforts have focused to date. This observation suggests that the obesity pandemic is not inevitable, and with concerted efforts, we can prevent obesity.