ABSTRACT
A wide range of psychosocial determinants of the overweight or obese condition has been cited, but most are poorly understood. There is less of an understanding and certainly little consensus regarding the aetiology of these factors. For example, we do not know how widespread these determinants are and whether they are genetically mediated, triggered by the environment, or potentially, a mix of both. For instance, how pervasive are the social pressures on young children to be thin? What are the psychosocial pressures associated with the use of restricted dietary practices in this population (Garrow, 1999)?
