Junk food is not the whole story.

The obesity epidemic is something that most all Americans are being confronted with in one-way or another. It is a complex disease that may reflect changes in our bodies at a much more fundamental level than simply weight gain.

An Associated Press article in the Wall Street Journal on April 6, "Study finds high obesity rates in U.S. 4-Year-Olds," is one example of how a scientific finding is reported in a way that again keeps the conversation at the level of calories, physical exercise, and in this case, racial disparities.

It would behoove reporters such as this one to avoid strong statements about poor diet, exercise and poverty as being the primary causes of obesity.  We don't know the cause of the epidemic.

On the other hand, it would be helpful for reporters to try harder to incorporate into their writing the evolving “biology of obesity.”  This would in turn help readers view this as a disease with numerous causes that might include exposures to common chemicals in the womb and in early life.

Obesity is on the rise among all Americans which suggests that there is a common underlying biologic phenomenon.  The fact that we see differences in prevalence among racial groups, suggests that lifestyle and demographic factors are probably modifying the onset of this disease without causing this disease.

On a positive note, the reporter does a good job of pulling out key points. Most of all, they describe a striking finding that obesity is already highly prevalent and following demographic trends in kids as young as 4.  The reporter accurately points out that obesity is linked to a host of other health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and joint diseases; although it is not clear which is the horse and which is the cart.

The reporter mentions diabetes in pregnancy as a potential cause, also suggesting that the disease may have fetal origins. The implication is that maternal health during pregnancy is an obvious place to focus the public’s attention in terms of thinking about the origins of obesity in children.

Pregnant women and mothers of young children are one of the most easily influenced segments of the population.  Reporters play a very important role in their prenatal education and influencing the behaviors among this important group. 

If we can begin to appreciate obesity as a disease that begins within cells within a developing embryo very early after conception, we can undoubtedly inspire measures to reduce some of these risks and promote the development of healthy children.  Cutting out junk food and helping kids to exercise are both extremely important, but in some cases might be too little too late.