Environmental Factors and Socioeconomic Status

socioeconomic status: What we know is that obesity is both a chronic and often progressive condition. Research has identified a number of factors associated with obesity including: physical activity, diet, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, immigration and environmental factors, which all interconnect in complex ways and patterns. This means that while the root cause of weight gain may be a reduction in metabolic rate, overeating or a reduction in physical activity, secondary factors such as biological e.g., genetics , psychological e.g., depression and/or socioeconomic e.g., poverty may also pose significant barriers to weight management. , according to Hamilton Spectator. Here what everyone should know: There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Canadians living with obesity over the past few decades, and it is often cited as a risk factor for other chronic health conditions including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. This means that obesity is frequently a hot topic in the news. But media stories often miss the mark when it comes to informing Canadians about the complex factors that lead to obesity. So the short term, "quick-fix" solutions often espoused by shows like The Biggest Loser focusing on maximum weight loss in a minimum amount of time are generally unsustainable in the long term and associated with high rates of weight regain. Experts point to the fact that successful obesity management requires realistic and sustainable treatment strategies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.