INFLUENCES ON OVERVATNESS AND OBESITY: IMPLICATIONS
1. There is a need to recognise individual differences and, in particular, the influences of the environment, biology, behaviour and physiological adjustment in deterrnining equilibrium body fat levels.
2. Distinguishing between different types of environments (micro, macro, physical, socio-cultural) is helpful for understanding the variety of external influences on an individual.
3. Obesity in modern society should be seen as a normal physiological response to a pathological environment rather than vice versa. For this reason, there is limited value in searching for abnormalities (genetic /metabolic/ psychological) as major causes of obesity.
4. There should be increased emphasis on influencing fat intake and fat oxidation as the modalities of first choice in managing and preventing obesity.
6. It is necessary to emphasise the distinction between physical activity for fat loss (or prevention of fat gain) in contrast to ‘exercise’ for fitness.
7. Because of physiological adaptation, greater emphasis should be placed on long term maintenance of body fat losses in contrast to easier, short term, immediate changes in body weight.
8. It is ethically inappropriate to advertise or promote quick and large weight losses.
9. Because of the broad ranging requirements of the field of weight control management, its treatment belongs to no one particular profession. Hence, professionals must learn to work with and refer to experts in other disciplines in order to provide clients with the best opportunity to deal with their problems.
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