Obesity Is Complicated, So Is Preventing It. The 28th August #obsmuk chat's blog by Gemma Bridge.


Obesity Is Complicated, So Is Preventing It  


The number of people living with overweight and obesity has increased over the past 30 years, and so have associated conditions such as diabetes and dental carries. As a result, prevention is extremely important. But prevention is complex since obesity is the result of a multitude of interrelated forces which act at multiple levels and influence patterns of eating and physical activity. 


There are at least four preventive strategies for obesity: Education, regulation, modification of the food supply (availability, reformulation of products) and price changes. Traditionally obesity prevention has focused on individual-level behavioural changes through education, campaigns and commercial weight loss programs. However, such approaches overlook the complicated interaction between societal, environmental and genetic factors inherent to obesity and thus have poor long-term success. Alternative, ‘whole-system’ approaches to prevention have gained support following the publication of the Foresight report. Such interventions include family day care programs and holistic parent and child programs. 


The media has picked up on prevention debates. For example, recently discussing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s comments about the limited role of taxes in reducing obesity. Taxes are an example of a population wide intervention aiming to alter the environmental factors influencing the development of obesity. Other population wide interventions include front of pack nutrition label regulations and restrictions on product marketing.


Due to continued debates there are a number of unanswered questions which need exploration to help prevent obesity in the future.


 #obsmuk invites you to join our chat on Wednesday 28th August 8pm UK time to discuss obesity prevention in general and the following questions in particular.

·         1) Is obesity preventable?



·       2)  What role, if any, should the food industry play in preventing obesity?



·       3)  Who is responsible for the prevention of obesity?



·       4)  Can food or drink taxes have a long-term impact on the prevention of overweight and obesity?



·         5) At what point in the life course should obesity prevention begin?


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