The Role of Urbanization in Childhood Obesity

Abstract

Obesity is becoming the most frequently diagnosed chronic disease in many countries affecting all age groups and specifically the pediatric population. To date, most approaches have focused on changing the behavior of individuals with respect to diet and exercise. Almost all researchers agree that prevention could be the key strategy for controlling the current epidemic of obesity. Prevention may be achieved by changes in lifestyle through a variety of interventions targeting the urban environment, physical activity, time spent watching television and playing computer games and consumption of carbonated drinks. However, as yet, these strategies seem to have had little impact on the growing increase of the obesity epidemic. In this article, we aimed to discuss the effect of rapid urbanization on childhood obesity and to suggest solutions to this problem.

Figure 1. The Obesegenic Environment: the sum of influences which affect the life of children (illustrated by Özgür Pirgon)

Figure 2. Typical row of 1930s-built semi-detached English suburban houses (Orpington Gardens, N18), photographed in the 1930s

Figure 3. Rapid urbanization (İzmir, Turkey) in the late 1990. No suitable walking and play areas