ABSTRACT
Earlier chapters in this book have considered the causes of obesity in terms of the standard ‘energy balance’ model. In this model, obesity results from an imbalance between energy input, captured by measures of diet and nutrition (Chapter 5), and energy output, understood as exercise, fitness and associated activity constructs (Chapter 8). The additional emphasis and unique selling point of the book has been to highlight further relationships associated with the environmental settings within which people live and work. Thus, certain environments have been highlighted as obesogenic and others as leptogenic. The factors implicated in these environmental constructs may link back to the energy balance model – food deserts or walkable neighbourhoods – or they may relate to area-based interventions designed to reduce obesity.
