Restoring Energy Balance in Communities
Thursday, May 16, 2013Based on the simplistic notion that excessive weight gain is merely a matter of calories-in and calories-out, conventional individual-level approaches to obesity have long focussed on restoring energy balance in individuals by attempting to influence energy intake and output (with rather modest success).
What affects weight gain in individuals, may well also influence weight gain in populations, at least that is the underpinning idea of the ecological approach to addressing obesity. But, as in individuals, interventions based on this notion are far from straightforward to implement or sustain.
This may well be, because, as at the individual level, complex sociocultural and psychological (not to mention biological) factors tend to occur that serve to push the energy balance towards the positive side of the equation – this is particularly true for minority and marginalised populations.
Thus, as presented by Shiriki Kumanyika from the University of Pennsylvania at the 20th European Congress on Obesity in Liverpool, social inequalities can make certain population seqments particularly vulnerable for obesogenic factors.
In this context, she emphasised that the term “vulnerability” itself can be discriminating and should be clearly defined in the context of social inequalities that face certain population groups (e.g. ethnic minorities) rather than in terms of “deficits”.
In her talk, she presented an overview of her work demonstrating the markedly increased obesity rates in black women, American Indians and Mexican Americans in the US. As she noted, even in the context of clinical trials, not only do participants from these groups show less weight loss with interventions but also gain weight more rapidly when randomised to the control group.
While the nature of foods and activity options available to whose with limited resources accounts for some of the increased risk, it turns out that higher income does not appear to be protective early in the nutrition-economic transition. Rather, during this transition phase, upward mobility may actually further increase the risk of obesity as behavioural risks (increased caloric intake, sedentariness) become more “affordable”.
In order to better understand these patterns of differences in ethnic minorities, a network consisting largely of black American researchers, has developed a “Community Energy Balance” framework.
At the community level energy balance is mediated through the many factors that directly or indirectly affect food intake and physical activity.
This framework leads to the identification of a wide range of potential intervention targets at the levels of the community, family and individuals.
Other elements of this framework also consider cultural-contextual influences that influence obesity including historical experiences and adaptations, type of minority status, structural influences, and sociocultural influences.
The hope is that although both socio-economic status and ethnic differentials are important, this framework will facilitate a systematic analysis and identification of possible solutions to the inequalities that affect these minority populations.
However, whether or not such interventions will prove more effective in communities than current individual-based interventions clearly remains to be seen. Knowing the intrinsic property of complex systems (including communities) to often respond and adapt in unpredictable ways, often with unintended consequences, it is by no means clear as to which community based approaches to addressing inequalities or other drivers of obesity will ultimately tip populations towards the negative side of the energy balance equation.
AMS
London, UK
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Community Energy Balance MUST be REPLACED by INDIVIDUAL Energy Balance, which is in part genetic-dependent… CALOGENETIC BALANCE…. As presented ALSO at the ECO2013…. http://www.vitasanas.ch/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/poster_calogenetic_balance_eco_liverpool_2013.pdf
Regards
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thanks AMS for this information. I just love her work. We will have the honner because she will be one of our speaker at our presentation of June 14, 2013 in Quebec City: “Impact evaluation challenges in obesity prevention: Experiences from international leaders” – I am really excited abouth this :o) If you want to see more there is our link : https://www.evaluation-prevention-obesite.ulaval.ca/cms/site/pepo/lang/en/page83582.html;jsessionid=4177CD0D5543E17697DBE2E98C44F41D
Nathalie
Thursday, May 16, 2013
I thought you were going to in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan tomorrow May 17, 2013 and I am from Onion Lake first nation and work at healing and wellness as family counselor. I was looking forward of meeting and listening to you about health nutrition. I have been struggling with obesity and been on different products as well different exercise programs. I am now 48 years old at 240 pounds 5.1 recently been diagnosis as diabetic as well low iron deficiency. I would to control my health and feel healthy
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Yes, I will be in Lloydminster tomorrow – see you there?
Arya
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Yes, an individual’s weight is affected by what is happening in his or her community.
Check out “Big Meets Bigger – Kuwait” on YouTube.
It’s a BBC production.
Two overweight Brits visit Kuwait, where there’s an obesity problem in a community of very wealthy Kuwaitis.
Whether a community is very poor or very rich, a dysfunctional food culture makes people obese.
Friday, May 24, 2013
My interest on the subject was piqued by this article from financesonline.com: http://financesonline.com/obesity-and-the-black-american-causes-culture-consequences-and-cost/
It presented problems but only touched on solutions lightly so I’m glad I came across your post. Thanks!