Skip Navigation
National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of Health
Increase text size Decrease text size Print this page

Environmental Solutions to Obesity in America's Youth

Background

Environmental Solutions to Obesity in America's Youth The rise in childhood obesity is due to complex interactions across a number of environmental contexts that influence eating and physical activity (IOM2004). This environment is characterized by:

  • Urban and suburban designs that discourage physical activity.
  • Economic and time pressures on families that result in frequent consumption of convenience foods.
  • Reduced access to and affordability of nutritious foods in some communities.
  • Decreased opportunities for walking or biking to, at, or after school.
  • Increased sedentary screen time.

The second annual NIEHS national conference on obesity and the environment will highlight the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing obesity in youth.

Conference Topics

  • What approaches support a healthy physical and nutritional environment for youth?
  • What are effective prevention and treatment strategies?
  • How can we act on the best available evidence?
  • How can the environment be modified to promote healthier eating and increased physical activity?
  • How can environmental interventions address disparities in the prevalence of overweight and obesity?
  • What can we do to develop and enhance public-private partnerships?
USA.gov Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health
This page URL: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/events/pastmtg/2005/esoay/index.cfm
NIEHS website: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
Email the Web Manager at webmanager@niehs.nih.gov
Last Reviewed: July 31, 2007