Obesogenic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əʊbiːsəˈdʒɛnɪk/

Definitions

1. Pertaining to conditions or elements in one's surroundings that foster an increased risk of weight gain and obesity through dietary and lifestyle choices
2. Involving aspects of the environment that encourage behaviors leading to excessive body weight by facilitating poor food options and inactivity
3. Relating to environmental factors that promote unhealthy eating and sedentary living, thereby increasing the likelihood of developing obesity

Etymology: "Obesogenic" is a modern scientific coinage, built from "obese" and the suffix "-genic," which means "producing or causing" something. The suffix comes from Ancient Greek "-genēs," from "génos," meaning "birth," "race," or "kind," and reached English through French and Latin forms such as "-genic" and "-icus." Its use with medical terms is a later development, shaped by the English "-ic" ending. The first part, "obese," comes from Latin "obesus," meaning "fat" or "well-fed," literally "having eaten until fat," from "obedere," to eat up. Put together, "obesogenic" means something that produces obesity, and it is most often applied to environments, foods, or habits that make people gain weight rather than to individuals.

Synonyms: fattening, weight-inducing, unhealthy, calorie-rich

Antonyms: slimming, healthful, reducing