42 Chapter 3: Weight Management Obesity rates also tend to be higher in areas of the country that are considered to be food deserts (i.e., areas that do not have easy access to a grocery store or transportation and are low-income households). Research shows that those living in food deserts also experience higher incidence of diabetes and lower access to healthcare (Pope, 2020; Lantz, 2010). Figure 3.2 illustrates low access to grocery stores and low-income households. Figure 3.2. No Car and No Supermarket within a Mile Obesity is a common, serious, and costly disease. Individuals with obesity are at greater risk for multiple diseases or conditions including: • Heart disease • Sleep apnea • Type 2 diabetes • Asthma • Gallbladder disease • Arthritis • Certain types of cancer (e.g., endometrial, colon, gallbladder, prostate, kidney, breast) • Incontinence (loss of bladder control) • Depression It is important to note that these conditions are correlated or related to obesity, not caused by obesity. There are numerous factors that contribute to the onset of various medical conditions to include family history, smoking, and lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, exercise, sleep, stress). The notion that an individual’s eating habits is the only factor related to and contributing to obesity is simply unfair and biased. Similarly, weight cycling (aka yo-yo dieting or the process of repeated dieting resulting in the same few pounds being lost and then regained) is also associated with numerous negative health outcomes such as systemic inflammation, hypertension, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia (Montani et al., 2015; Strohacker & McFarlin, 2010).
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