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Environment and Behavior, Vol. 39, No. 1, 6-33 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0013916506295570
© 2007 SAGE Publications

Environment, Design, and Obesity

Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research

Nancy M. Wells

Cornell University, nmw2{at}cornell.edu

Susan P. Ashdown

Cornell University

Elizabeth H. S. Davies

Cornell University

F. D. Cowett

Cornell University

Yizhao Yang

University of Oregon

This article presents a framework for considering the relevance of the physical environment to obesity. The authors adopt the notion that the "environment" constitutes the space outside the person and therefore broaden the common conceptualization of the "environment" to encompass a full spectrum from small-scale design elements to large-scale community infrastructure. An energy balance approach is also adopted. The energy balance perspective recognizes the equilibrium of food consumption and energy expenditure, rather than focusing solely on one or the other side of the equation. The authors consider how environmental characteristics present either barriers (that hinder), or supports (that promote) healthy habits. Thus, they describe a range of obesity-related environmental themes that provide opportunities for innovative collaborative research between environmental psychologists and colleagues in fields ranging from apparel design to landscape architecture. Last, conceptual and methodological considerations are briefly presented.

Key Words: environment • dietary intake • interdisciplinary • obesity • physical activity


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