New York, May 25 (IANS) The obesity epidemic in the US
has opened a pandora's box. An analysis has revealed that commonly-held
assumptions about the causes that have pushed up the rates of obesity
are mostly wrong.
Contrary to popular belief, people are
exercising more today, have more leisure time and better access to
fresh, affordable food - including fruits and vegetables - than they did
in past decades, the study said.
While troubling disparities
exist among various groups, most economic, educational, and racial or
ethnic groups have seen their obesity levels rise at similar rates since
the mid-1980s.
"The gap between groups is secondary to the
increase that all groups experience over time," said Ruopeng An, a
kinesiology and community health professor at University of Illinois,
US.
So a reversal of the obesity epidemic would need universal intuitions rather than a focus on certain groups, he added.
So what is it that is making the waistlines larger in the US?
The easy availability of food could be one of the factors.
"Overall,
food is more accessible and affordable than ever in the US, and this
may be an important factor in the dramatic rise in obesity," An noted.