ABSTRACT
Few would question that the current obesity epidemic represents a complex public health problem that requires understanding of its multiple determinants. Although evidence suggests that obesity rates have stabilized among some U.S. populations, disparities among racial/ethnic and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations persist.1,2 Genetic predisposition is estimated to explain 45%–75% of obesity,3-6 it is the interaction of genes with the enabling environment that presents opportunities for intervention. For example, cultural inuences may contribute to the higher than average risk of obesity among children and youth of U.S. ethnic minority populations.7
