As with many topics in psychological discourse, there is controversy surrounding the etiology of obesity as it relates to "nature and nurture." Proponents of the nature argument asserted that obesity is the product of genetic and biological determinism, in that it is a disease beyond the control of the sufferer. On the other hand, the education argument maintains that obesity is the result of environmental influences, whether learned behaviors or directly caused by environmental stimuli. These two perspectives represent two opposite ends of a continuum. However, it is commonly proposed that obesity is more precisely explained from an interactionist perspective. This posits that obesity is caused by genetic influences occurring via environmental stimuli (Faith et al., 1997). Simply put, this argument proposes that obesity is caused by nature and nurture. This essay will discuss the various arguments regarding nature and nurture, and their effectiveness in explaining the causation of obesity. In the relevant literature, obesity is often defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more (Fernández et al., 2008; Janssen et al., 2004). This is a syndrome that has received a great deal of attention not only in the psychological and medical literature, but also in the mainstream media. It is a health problem that is growing at an alarming rate, to the point that it is now considered an epidemic in both the developed and underdeveloped world (Janssen et al., 2004; For example, around a third of New Zealand adults were obese in 2012. This figure increased between 1997 and 2012 by 43% for men and 52% for women respectively in New Zealand (New Zealand Ministry of Health ,...... middle of paper ......hunger, we have shifted our focus from satisfying our energy needs to satisfying our perceived taste preferences These are often fatty, salty foods. and sugary foods, all of which contribute to obesity, while providing little in the way of nutritional value (Swencionis & Rendell, 2012). grows at a rate far greater than the increase in average waist circumference. It is important that future research recognizes the interaction of nature and nurture, as neither. the other cannot completely explain the phenomenon The problem is not simple, but rather the combination and manifestation of several environmental and biological influences which have modified the homeostatic position of the people concerned to the point that there are prevalence rates. high for non-obesity. only obesity, but also his previous complaints.