Environmental influences on development of type 2 diabetes and obesity: challenges in personalizing prevention and management

Recent epidemic increases in the U.S. prevalence of obesity and diabetes are a consequence of widespread environmental changes affecting energy balance and its regulation. These environmental changes range from exposure to endocrine disrupting pollutants to shortened sleep duration to physical inact...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of diabetes science and technology Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 727 - 734
Main Author Ershow, Abby G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Diabetes Technology Society 01.07.2009
SeriesPersonalized Medicine for Diabetes
Subjects
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - therapy
Diet
Eating
Health Behavior
Health Promotion
Humans
Obesity - therapy
Precision Medicine
Sleep - physiology
Social Environment
Symposium
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Recent epidemic increases in the U.S. prevalence of obesity and diabetes are a consequence of widespread environmental changes affecting energy balance and its regulation. These environmental changes range from exposure to endocrine disrupting pollutants to shortened sleep duration to physical inactivity to excess caloric intake. Overall, we need a better understanding of the factors affecting individual susceptibility and resistance to adverse exposures and behaviors and of determinants of individual response to treatment. Obesity and diabetes prevention will require responding to two primary behavioral risk factors: excess energy intake and insufficient energy expenditure. Adverse food environments (external, nonphysiological influences on eating behaviors) contribute to excess caloric intake but can be countered through behavioral and economic approaches. Adverse built environments, which can be modified to foster more physical activity, are promising venues for community-level intervention. Techniques to help people to modulate energy intake and increase energy expenditure must address their personal situations: health literacy, psychological factors, and social relationships. Behaviorally oriented translational research can help in developing useful interventions and environmental modifications that are tailored to individual needs.
ISSN:1932-2968
1932-3107
DOI:10.1177/193229680900300418