Behavioural Causes of Overeating and Lifestyle

Abstract

Over the years sedentary activities increased while physical activities declined. Obesity has now progressed to an alarming rate while public policies to control obesity have remained behind. Changes in lifestyle promote new types of food, snacking habit, and eating out. An increasing sedentary lifestyle creates the demand for new types of food, consisting of a high-fat, high-calorie diet; hence, individuals’ lifestyle has changed and so has their waistline with detrimental consequences to their health; mostly adopted by younger individuals. Thus, there is a gene–environment interaction for some, but a pure environment effect for most. There is a trade-off between the present fulfilment of short-term gratification and future well-being as a consequence of their increasing obesity.