Portfolio: Health
The obesity epidemic
Katie Mackintosh reports from a Holyrood magazine conference on obesity
T
he World Health Organisation has
described obesity as one of the
greatest public health challenges of the
21st century. It is a truly global problem,
with a reach and complexity that has been
likened to climate change. However, it is
also a particular problem for Scotland.
We have the second highest level of obe-
sity in the world, next only to the USA.
More worryingly, the high levels of obe-
sity among the younger members of the
population – a recent ScotPHO report
stated that one in five boys and one in
ten girls in Scotland aged between 2 and
15 are classed as obese – means that the
trend is set to continue, so much so that
an estimated 60 per cent of the popula-
tion is expected to be severely overweight
by 2050. No wonder then it is frequently
described as an “epidemic.”
However, such language may be hin-
dering rather than helping progress to
address the problem, argues Dr Michael
Gard, Associate Professor, Charles Sturt said, have been “very badly served” by form of behaviour and that means think-
University, Australia and co-author of current research models. ing about humans and how they act, not
The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Morality and He said: “I feel desperately sorry a disease that has levers you can pull and
Ideology. for the policy makers who are left with push.”
Speaking at Holyrood magazine’s research that has been determined to see More useful, he said, would be
‘Childhood Obesity: Working together obesity as a list of risk factors. They have greater support and resources for practi-
for a healthier future,’ conference in been poorly served by it.” tioners who work with families, individu-
Edinburgh last week, Gard told delegates While there have been numerous als and communities on a day-to-day
that there is a need to “kill off ” the idea attempts to establish causes, and there- basis.
that there is an obesity crisis or epidemic, fore potential solutions, for obesity, he “But we need less support for crude
arguing that such ideas are “not helpful” says the results have been inconclusive. one-size-fits-all policies, which are
and lead to “bad, hysterically populist “Therefore,” he said, “I am forced designed to quell the call for action and
policy.” to conclude that it must be the faith in appear to be acting,” he added.
While he does not deny that obesity the idea of obesity as a disease that no He repeated that for these policies to
is a problem, he described it as a “fairly one appears to be struck by the long his- succeed, the issue will need to be debated
run of the mill problem about which we tory of inconclusive results in this area. calmly and responsibly.
should be concerned, but about which No one seems to be asking what’s wrong “Over the next few years we will see
we should not make too much of.” here. Why do our results keep producing levels of obesity plateau and in some
He explained: “When we talk about inconclusive results when people try to cases go down. Media interest will go
a crisis, certain things become thinkable nail down what is the cause of the obe- down and at that point, I think we stand
that otherwise wouldn’t be, we wouldn’t sity epidemic?” a relatively good chance of getting some
propose them.” This, he said, shows the “futility” of good social policy.
To illustrate, he cited the example pursuing obesity as a disease. “But so long as it happens within
of plans in England for schools to send He continued: “Obesity is not a dis- the context of a crisis, an epidemic, the
data of children’s BMIs to their parents, ease. Obesity never killed anybody. It has chances of getting good policy are much
which he described as an “expensive, no risk factors. The search for risk factors reduced.”
clumsy and ineffective policy.” has not produced useful and enduring However, he added the truth of the
However, he also admitted that he knowledge. matter is that when obesity rates do start
feels sorry for policy makers, who, he “We need to think of obesity as a to come down, as he believes they will,
52
| 17 November 2008 | Holyrood magazine | www.holyrood.com |
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