Environmental Justice: Obesity, Physical Activity, and Healthy Eating

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Environmental justice addresses the unequal burden of environmental hazards on low-income and racial/ethnic minority communities.
• These populations often face disproportionate exposure to harmful environmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on disparities in physical activity, dietary habits, and obesity.
• To examine the role of environmental factors in these health disparities.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of published articles was conducted using computer and manual searches.
• The review focused on studies discussing physical activity, diet, and obesity across different populations.

Main Results:

• Economically disadvantaged and minority populations encounter significant environmental obstacles to physical activity, healthy eating, and weight control.
• Residents of poorer areas face greater environmental barriers to engaging in physical activity.

Conclusions:

• A research agenda is proposed to specifically tackle environmental justice issues related to physical activity, diet, and weight.
• Addressing environmental justice is crucial for improving health behaviors and outcomes in vulnerable populations.