Wasim Maziak ^1* Kenneth D. Ward ¹

¹ University of Memphis, School of Public Health

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: wmaziak{at}memphis.edu.

	Abstract

Sedentary, consumption-based lifestyles are placing entire populations at serious health risks; obesity is a prime example.

The individual approach to obesity, which targets those at risk, has largely failed because it ignores wider influences on behavior. Although the population–ecological approach is gaining support, it cannot disentangle clear targets for policy change. Consequently, health promotion has been relegated to the mass marketing of healthy behaviors, which is based on a rational notion that informed people tend to behave in their best interest.

Creating environments that support behavior change and providing individuals incentives can be more effective to reduce lifestyle-related risks. A paradigm shift from trying to sell health to the public to creating the conditions whereby healthy choices become accessible and affordable is required.

Key Words: Community Health, Health Promotion, Obesity, Overweight, Underweight