Changes required across many different policy areas
Obesity has to be seen as not just a technical, food, physical activity or healthcare problem but a challenge for what sort of society is being built. Small, incremental, publicity-driven (i.e. social market-based) changes might suit the existing balance of policy interests, but a more extensive, co-ordinated, cross-sectoral action would be more effective.

Encouraging daily physical activity and modifying dietary intake raises complex questions for public policy across a number of areas; including:

  • agriculture – because policy affects what is produced;​
  • manufacturing – for ingredients, portions and products;​
  • retail – for planning, prices, availability and location;​
  • education – for health knowledge and skills;​
  • culture – for the shaping of consciousness around food and physical activity;​
  • trade – for product pricing and terms of trade;​
  • economics – for differential taxation and subsidy of foods.
Immediately related elementsHow this works
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Tackling obesity in the UK »Tackling obesity in the UK
Tackling obesity »Tackling obesity
Adopt a whole systems approach to obesity »Adopt a whole systems approach to obesity
Changes required across many different policy areas
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