FOOD SECURITY AS A FACTOR IN OBESITY PREVENTION (DISCUSSION OF THE INSURANCE HYPOTHESIS)

Abstract

According to the Insurance hypothesis, obesity is the result of psychological mechanisms and performs its evolutionary function, that’s why spreading of simple information, product labeling or ambiguous appeals cannot overcome them. In fact, the priority of this hypothesis is that it recognizes the main role of human psychological characteristics in the emergence of obesity and the need for state intervention in this problem. A healthy social environment, society's value system, family example, avoiding psychological traumas, recognizing the problem of food addiction and overcoming it are most significant in establishing of healthy eating behavior. Only after that it would be effective to implement healthy nutrition programs. At the same time, providing access to food for people with food addiction will cause aggravation of this problem and stimulate the enjoyment of taking food. The insurance hypothesis cannot explain gender and age differences in obesity prevalence. Therefore, food security is unattainable and unrealistic and does not take into consideration the real reasons for the development of obesity.

Thus, the results of the insurance hypothesis could not be effective in fight against obesity and, on the contrary, it will have a disastrous effect on humanity.