Link[1] Overcoming policy cacophony on obesity: an ecological public health framework for policymakers
Author: Tim Lang, Geoff Rayner
Publication info: 2007, Obesity Reviews 8 (Suppl. 1): 165.
Cited by: David Price 8:27 PM 28 November 2014 GMT
Citerank: (19) 348770Tackling obesityMany policy interventions have been suggested to address the obesity crisis across multiple studies—and indeed many such measures have been implemented, and are being implemented, now. There's recognition too that these interventions need to be part of a coherent and comprehensive whole systems strategy [4]; with some grounds for optimism that such an approach has the potential to accomplish a significant reduction in the prevalence of obesity in the UK across the next decade. [2]565CA4D9, 351042Strategies of some companies are fuelling the obesity crisisSome companies and industries are fuelling the obesity crisis, through a variety of strategies that prioritise profitability and corporate brand value over public health, and, in the process, externalise significant costs.555CD992, 352528Subsidising the production of sugar and fatGovernments are subsidising production of fat and sugar compared with micronutrient-rich foods.555CD992, 352531Overseeing a decline in physical activitySuccessive governments have overseen a decline of physical activity (e.g. due to policies on transport, public spaces, and sports facilities).555CD992, 366559Encourage individuals and families to make healthier choices565CA4D9, 366897Surgical and pharmaceutical solutions don't resolve societal problemsThere is a danger of searching for pharmaceutical or bariatric solutions; as technological solutions are unlikely to resolve societal problems – at best, they are a ‘sticking plaster’.13EF597B, 368179Production and marketing choices favour profit over diet optimisationDecisions made by many food and beverage companies tend to be shaped more by the immediate corporate financial interests of shareholders (and the associated interests of corporate officers) rather than the social goal of achieving optimal human diets; as reflected in, for example, the production and marketing a high volume of low-cost, highly processed foods that are rich in sugar, salt, and saturated fats.555CD992, 370363Unhealthy foods are cheaper and getting cheaper555CD992, 373987Genetic susceptibility to an obesogenic environmentRoughly 70 percent of obesity risk is genetically inherited; however, this genetic inheritance is best understood as a susceptibility to a fattening environment––i.e. in a healthy environment, genes alone do not usually cause obesity: in an unhealthy environment, genetically susceptible people become obese, while others remain lean because they are not genetically susceptible. [1]555CD992, 399546Tackling obesityMany policy interventions have been suggested to address the obesity crisis across multiple studies—and indeed many such measures have been implemented, and are being implemented, now. There's recognition too that these interventions need to be part of a coherent and comprehensive whole systems strategy [4]; with some grounds for optimism that such an approach has the potential to accomplish a significant reduction in the prevalence of obesity in the UK across the next decade. [2]565CA4D9, 399576Encourage individuals and families to make healthier choices565CA4D9, 399702Surgical and pharmaceutical solutions don't resolve societal problemsThere is a danger of searching for pharmaceutical or bariatric solutions; as technological solutions are unlikely to resolve societal problems – at best, they are a ‘sticking plaster’.13EF597B, 399888Strategies of some companies are fuelling the obesity crisisSome companies and industries are fuelling the obesity crisis, through a variety of strategies that prioritise profitability and corporate brand value over public health, and, in the process, externalise significant costs.555CD992, 399893Genetic susceptibility to an obesogenic environmentRoughly 70 percent of obesity risk is genetically inherited; however, this genetic inheritance is best understood as a susceptibility to a fattening environment––i.e. in a healthy environment, genes alone do not usually cause obesity: in an unhealthy environment, genetically susceptible people become obese, while others remain lean because they are not genetically susceptible. [1]555CD992, 399895Production and marketing choices favour profit over diet optimisationDecisions made by many food and beverage companies tend to be shaped more by the immediate corporate financial interests of shareholders (and the associated interests of corporate officers) rather than the social goal of achieving optimal human diets; as reflected in, for example, the production and marketing a high volume of low-cost, highly processed foods that are rich in sugar, salt, and saturated fats.555CD992, 399903Subsidising the production of sugar and fatGovernments are subsidising production of fat and sugar compared with micronutrient-rich foods.555CD992, 399904Overseeing a decline in physical activitySuccessive governments have overseen a decline of physical activity (e.g. due to policies on transport, public spaces, and sports facilities).555CD992, 399918Unhealthy foods are cheaper and getting cheaper555CD992, 399927WHO's total budget is less than half the marketing budget of McDonaldsMcDonald’s and Coca-Cola’s marketing budgets are each twice the World Health Organization’s full-year budget.1198CE71 URL:
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