The micro environment refers to those aspects of the environment that are closer to the individual. Again, these can be classed as either physical or socio-cultural. Because they are more personal, however, they are much more amenable to change and represent opportunities for those working at the clinical or individual level. Many potential micro-environmental changes, either within the home, workplace or social environment, are often considered within a behaviour therapy approach to obesity management.
The physical micro environment. Most changes at the macro-environmental level require wide changes such as in government policy, food industry practices or the promotion of healthy choice by food marketers. However, at the individual level it is possible to ‘psychologically immunise’ individuals against the counter-productive influences of the environment through education, counselling and behaviour change practices. The idea of avoiding fast foods, reducing the availability or accessibility of fatty foods in the home and walking instead of using automated transport, all help to reduce the negative effects of the macro environment or micro environment, although it must be emphasised that these have to be continually reinforced to maintain effectiveness.
Foods coming into the home can be limited through the teaching of appropriate shopping skills—reading labels, purchase of alternative low-fat products and providing tips for shopping such as never shopping on an empty stomach. Members of the family can be encouraged to participate in local sporting activities, to walk to the shop for the paper rather than taking the car or to join in a family bike ride or bush walk. The overuse of energy-saving devices can be easily controlled within the home. All these efforts can help to maintain a healthier micro environment. In many cases the environment outside the home such as the work canteen or lunch bar can be influenced by one or two individuals and are therefore considered ‘micro’, rather than ‘macro’. The impact of a ‘School Canteen Project’ is an example of a few influential people modifying the environment which in turn affects large numbers of school children.
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