Niki Bezzant: The ever-growing problem of fat

We live in a world that has an abundance of cheap, energy-dense, nutrient-poor food. Photo Getty

Opinion

We know that, as a nation, we are fat and getting fatter. Obesity is an ever-growing problem (pun intended).

I'm uncomfortable with calling it an "epidemic" - implying that it is somehow contagious - but the facts remain that nearly two-thirds of us are overweight or obese, including more than a million obese adults.

Auckland's Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery is undertaking a large study to identify the genes involved in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The researchers plan to look at the biological factors that predispose some people to greater risk of developing obesity and diabetes.

The thinking is that if they can identify the genes that play a role, they can develop strategies to tackle the problem.

This research will add to a body of global research on obesity and genes and it could lead us to the day when medical science is able to design an optimum diet for each of us, depending on our individual genetic makeup.

It is important to realise, though, that this is not a free pass. We don't get to say, "Well, it's all in the genes - I don't need to do anything. I'll just let science solve it."

Obesity is complex and it has more than one cause. A strong argument can be made that our environment is a major influence.

We live in a world that has an abundance of cheap, energy-dense, nutrient-poor food.

Couple that with jobs and home lives in which we're moving less and we end up having what experts call an "obesogenic" environment.

Parts of the country verge on being what are known as "food deserts", areas where it's difficult to access affordable, nutritious food, especially if you don't have a car. In this environment, it is hard to make a healthy choice.

Deprivation plays into this, too. People in the most deprived areas are 1 times more likely to be obese than those in the least deprived areas.

Children are, tragically, three times more likely to be overweight.

This highlights the need to work on the bigger picture and address poverty and inequality in meaningful ways.

Undoubtedly education plays a role. We need to look at what we're teaching our kids about healthy eating and how we're empowering adults with information.

Our food culture is important. A culture that gives food importance, that celebrates eating together and giving time and attention to preparing and cooking food as well as sharing it is far less disposed to lifestyle diseases.

We also can't ignore basic human nature. We're wired for pleasure. We crave. We're easily tempted. Photo / Getty

We know this from looking at the so-called Blue Zones, the places in the world where people are the healthiest and live the longest and who, despite having different diets, share this approach.

We also can't ignore basic human nature. We're wired for pleasure. We crave. We're easily tempted.

That makes us susceptible to pervasive and persuasive food marketing messages.

Perhaps the genetic research may illuminate this: are some of us more predisposed to crave what isn't good for us?

Whatever the case, the obesity problem needs more than one solution and we need to approach it from more than one direction.

The genetic scientists, the policy makers, the health professionals, the food industry and individuals need to work together to make ours a world in which the healthy choice is the easy choice.

Niki Bezzant is editor-in-chief of Healthy Food Guide magazine.