Squabbling While Obesity Rages On

November 8, 2012 — There may be only one thing obesity experts agree on: Obesity is a complex disease that must be fought on many fronts. In an article in USA Today, a number of experts were asked to weigh in on the causes of obesity. As many different responses came forth as there were experts, and the uncertainty about the root cause may be hindering our ability to fight the disease.

The causes cited range from sugary drinks to a work environment that has become more sedentary to larger portions served in restaurants to the easy accessibility of high-calorie food to the elimination of physical education in schools to simply eating more calories. 

All of these changes and more have created the "perfect storm" that has led to the three-decades-long rise of obesity, says James Hill, executive director of the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center at the University of Colorado. "It’s a fallacy to think you could change one thing and fix obesity. Many things need to change to turn this problem around." However, the lack of agreement on root cause may be hindering abilities to find effective 

You can read the USA Today story here.