FAT LOSS ENVIROMENTAL INFLUENCES: IMPLICATIONS
1. There is a need to take a wider view of the causes of overfatness and obesity than simple fat and/or energy imbalances.
2. Examine the influences in both the macro and micro environment that limit an individual’s ability to successfully reduce body fat; list these and attempt to plan counter approaches to them.
3. If possible, get spouses and partners involved in the modification of the micro environment for reducing body fat levels.
4. Keep fatty foods either out of the household environment, or not easily accessible.
5. Encourage the use of ‘person power’ through physical activity and ‘incidental activity’, rather than using machinery.
6. Modify the food supply at the micro-environmental level if this can’t be changed at the macro level, e.g. through reading food labels, learning appropriate shopping techniques, etc.
8. Encourage walking rather than the use of vehicles where possible (i.e. park away from the destination, walk up the stairs instead of using escalators).
9. Get group support to facilitate physical activity (e.g. walking with a friend or group).
10. Encourage an attitude which regards movement as an ‘opportunity’, rather than an ‘inconvenience’.
11. Discourage the use of labour saving electronic equipment in the home such as remote controls for the TV, automatic garage doors, electronic can openers, toothbrushes etc.
12. Don’t commence a fat loss program at times when social support is likely to be least, i.e. at the end of the week or end of the year in particular.
13. Recognise the potential for environmental change and support individual and public health programs.
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