title: Ten putative contributors to the obesity epidemic.
abstract: The obesity epidemic is a global issue and shows no signs of abating, while the cause of this epidemic remains unclear. Marketing practices of energy-dense foods and institutionally-driven declines in physical activity are the alleged perpetrators for the epidemic, despite a lack of solid evidence to demonstrate their causal role. While both may contribute to obesity, we call attention to their unquestioned dominance in program funding and public efforts to reduce obesity, and propose several alternative putative contributors that would benefit from equal consideration and attention. Evidence for microorganisms, epigenetics, increasing maternal age, greater fecundity among people with higher adiposity, assortative mating, sleep debt, endocrine disruptors, pharmaceutical iatrogenesis, reduction in variability of ambient temperatures, and intrauterine and intergenerational effects as contributing factors to the obesity epidemic are reviewed herein. While the evidence is strong for some contributors such as pharmaceutical-induced weight gain, it is still emerging for other reviewed factors. Considering the role of such putative etiological factors of obesity may lead to comprehensive, cause specific, and effective strategies for prevention and treatment of this global epidemic.
authors: Department of Infections and Obesity, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Emily.mcallister@pbrc.edu
authors: Emily J
authors: EJ
authors: McAllister
authors: Nikhil V
authors: NV
authors: Dhurandhar
authors: Scott W
authors: SW
authors: Keith
authors: Louis J
authors: LJ
authors: Aronne
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Barger
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Baskin
authors: Ruth M
authors: RM
authors: Benca
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Biggio
authors: Mary M
authors: MM
authors: Boggiano
authors: Joe C
authors: JC
authors: Eisenmann
authors: Mai
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authors: Elobeid
authors: Kevin R
authors: KR
authors: Fontaine
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Gluckman
authors: Erin C
authors: EC
authors: Hanlon
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Katzmarzyk
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Pietrobelli
authors: David T
authors: DT
authors: Redden
authors: Douglas M
authors: DM
authors: Ruden
authors: Chenxi
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Waterland
authors: Suzanne M
authors: SM
authors: Wright
authors: David B
authors: DB
authors: Allison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015984:Causality; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*