dered to be clinically obese, compared to only 14.5% in 1980, there does not seem to be a cessation of this epidemic in sight (Hill & Peters, 1998). Goran and Weisners' (2000) proposal that "... the inherently lower resting metabolic rate in women versus men is responsible for the higher adiposity rates in women..." is wanting, especially since the potentially modifiable factors of; less physical strength, less daily free-living physical activity, and lower total energy expenditure are more likely the cause of the differences in observed adiposity between men and women. Since our genetic makeup has not appreciably changed in the last twenty years, we cannot strictly attribute the explosion of obesity to genetics. As these biological causes of obesity are disproved, a focus on the environment as a reason for obesity is taking centre-stage. With a multitude of environmental factors playing an ever-increasing role in the reasons for obesity, it is hard to focus on one reason as the 'root' cause of obesity. Ever-decreasing levels of physical activity, married with poor dietary habits are two likely causes of the obesity epidemic. Samaras et al. (1999) concluded that physical activity is the strongest environmental influence on total-body fat-mass in healthy middle-aged women. An inverse relationship was clearly apparent between physical activity and total-body and central abdominal fat (Samaras, 1999). Blackburn and Prineas (1983) also note that high rates of inactivity combined with easy access to energy-dense foods are responsible for the obesity phenomenon. The explosion in the availability of fast food in the last 10 years combined with an ever-decreasing need in our daily life to physically exert ourselves to complete our daily tasks has left us with obesity rates spiralling out of control. The increase in food availability and portion size at fast food restaurants ("Super-Size" at McDonalds) and elsewhere has conditioned us into order...
