While a lot has been said about the causes of obesity, there is a common thread to all – we reach too often for the packet of chips and not often enough for the gym gear. But, even this sentence alone makes it painfully clear that the individual is at fault. They are the ones who put food in their mouth and stay on the couch, and there’s no denying the truth in that. In 2018 in Australia, the majority of adults are overweight or obese(1), a pattern that’s replicated around the world, and obesity comes with serious health impacts. Health impacts like increased risk of noncommunicable diseases such as some cancers, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes to name a few(2).

So, we know that there’s a problem. But, what would be better to know is why there is a problem. After all, if we could stop this behaviour before it begins, we might have a much smaller fight on our hands. Why are we giving into temptation now and not before? Again, opinions differ – the food industry, industrialisation – others still credit increasingly stressful lives.

However, as with many problems, taking a step back often makes it much clearer. We live in environments that have become increasingly obesogenic, meaning they are conducive to weight gain. They encourage overconsumption by making you hungry all the time, with constant exposure to advertising for foods that our brain finds rewarding, and then making sure that these foods are as readily available as possible.