›› Policy & Environment Change

“It is unreasonable to expect that people will change their behavior so easily when so many forces in the social, cultural, and physical environment conspire against change.” - Institute of Medicine

“Attempts at improving nutrition and physical activity have conventionally focused on individual behavior change through one-on-one counseling, education, and support groups. These types of interventions have been moderately effective at improving nutrition and physical activity behaviors. Because it is difficult to begin and sustain a lifestyle change without a supportive environment, there is growing interest in how the broader social environment impacts food choice and physical activity patterns. With a ready supply of energy dense, palatable food and decreasing opportunities to be physically active, our modern environment has been described as “obesogenic” or obesity promoting. This environment challenges even the strongest dedication to eating healthfully and being physically active.

The past few decades have brought many changes in our social and physical environment that negatively impact eating and physical activity behaviors. Consider the many technological advances of modern life that diminish daily physical activity: cars, dishwashers, computers, elevators, and television. Consider the ease with which food can be obtained quickly from almost anywhere and the past few decades have brought many changes in our social and physical environment that negatively impact eating and physical activity behaviors.”

This an excerpt from Washington State Department of Health’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Resource Guide February 2005. View the full document here.