Mobilisation of public support for policy actions to prevent obesity

Abstract

Public mobilisation is needed to enact obesity-prevention policies and to mitigate reaction against their implementation. However, approaches in public health focus mainly on dialogue between public health professionals and political leaders. Strategies to increase popular demand for obesity-prevention policies include refinement and streamlining of public information, identification of effective obesity frames for each population, strengthening of media advocacy, building of citizen protest and engagement, and development of a receptive political environment with change agents embedded across organisations and sectors. Long-term support and investment in collaboration between diverse stakeholders to create shared value is also important. Each actor in an expanded coalition for obesity prevention can make specific contributions to engaging, mobilising, and coalescing the public. The shift from a top-down to a combined and integrated bottom-up and top-down approach would need an overhaul of current strategies and reprioritisation of resources.

Downsizing: policy options to reduce portion sizes to help tackle obesity

“…34 While public acceptance seems necessary for governments and the private sector to act, real progress may require more coordinated public demand. 35 The introduction of many tobacco control measures reflects the mobilisation of public support, not yet evident for obesity control. 36 Strategies that inform and enable communities could increase their demand for change to tackle obesity.…”

Probability of an Obese Person Attaining Normal Body Weight: Cohort Study Using Electronic Health Records

“…5,9 A recent series of reviews documented the limited progress in reversing the global obesity epidemic and called for regulatory actions from governments as well as coordinated efforts across industry and society to reduce obesity. [10][11][12][13] Dietz and colleagues warn that preventive strategies are unlikely to reduce weight in people living with severe obesity and stress the need for changes in the delivery of care for these patients. 14 In combination with previous research, this study highlights the current failures in combatting existing obesity cases at a population level.…”

Costs and outcomes of increasing access to bariatric surgery for obesity: cohort study and cost-effectiveness analysis using electronic health records

“…29,99 A recent series of reviews documented the limited progress in reversing the global obesity epidemic and called for regulatory actions from governments as well as co-ordinated efforts across industry and society to reduce obesity. [100][101][102][103] Dietz et al 104 warn that preventative strategies are unlikely to reduce weight in people living with severe obesity and stress the need for changes in the delivery of care for these patients. In combination with previous research, this study highlights the current failures in combating existing obesity cases at a population level.…”