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Changing the future of obesity: science, policy, and action
journal contribution
posted on 2011-08-27, 00:00 authored by S L Gortmaker, Boyd Swinburn, D Levy, Rob CarterRob Carter, P L Mabry, D T Finegood, T Huang, T Marsh, Marj MoodieMarj MoodieThe global obesity epidemic has been escalating for four decades, yet sustained prevention eff orts have barely begun.
An emerging science that uses quantitative models has provided key insights into the dynamics of this epidemic, and
enabled researchers to combine evidence and to calculate the eff ect of behaviours, interventions, and policies at
several levels—from individual to population. Forecasts suggest that high rates of obesity will aff ect future population
health and economics. Energy gap models have quantifi ed the association of changes in energy intake and expenditure
with weight change, and have documented the eff ect of higher intake on obesity prevalence. Empirical evidence that
shows interventions are eff ective is limited but expanding. We identify several cost-eff ective policies that governments
should prioritise for implementation. Systems science provides a framework for organising the complexity of forces
driving the obesity epidemic and has important implications for policy makers. Many parties (such as governments,
international organisations, the private sector, and civil society) need to contribute complementary actions in a
coordinated approach. Priority actions include policies to improve the food and built environments, cross-cutting
actions (such as leadership, healthy public policies, and monitoring), and much greater funding for prevention
programmes. Increased investment in population obesity monitoring would improve the accuracy of forecasts and
evaluations. The integration of actions within existing systems into both health and non-health sectors (trade,
agriculture, transport, urban planning, and development) can greatly increase the infl uence and sustainability of
policies. We call for a sustained worldwide eff ort to monitor, prevent, and control obesity.
An emerging science that uses quantitative models has provided key insights into the dynamics of this epidemic, and
enabled researchers to combine evidence and to calculate the eff ect of behaviours, interventions, and policies at
several levels—from individual to population. Forecasts suggest that high rates of obesity will aff ect future population
health and economics. Energy gap models have quantifi ed the association of changes in energy intake and expenditure
with weight change, and have documented the eff ect of higher intake on obesity prevalence. Empirical evidence that
shows interventions are eff ective is limited but expanding. We identify several cost-eff ective policies that governments
should prioritise for implementation. Systems science provides a framework for organising the complexity of forces
driving the obesity epidemic and has important implications for policy makers. Many parties (such as governments,
international organisations, the private sector, and civil society) need to contribute complementary actions in a
coordinated approach. Priority actions include policies to improve the food and built environments, cross-cutting
actions (such as leadership, healthy public policies, and monitoring), and much greater funding for prevention
programmes. Increased investment in population obesity monitoring would improve the accuracy of forecasts and
evaluations. The integration of actions within existing systems into both health and non-health sectors (trade,
agriculture, transport, urban planning, and development) can greatly increase the infl uence and sustainability of
policies. We call for a sustained worldwide eff ort to monitor, prevent, and control obesity.
History
Journal
LancetVolume
378Issue
9793Season
Obesity series: no 4Pagination
838 - 847Publisher
Lancet PublishingLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0140-6736Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2011, ElsevierUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineMedicine, General & InternalGeneral & Internal MedicineSUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGESPHYSICAL-ACTIVITY INTERVENTIONSASSESSING COST-EFFECTIVENESSPUBLIC-HEALTHCHRONIC DISEASESCHILDHOOD OVERWEIGHTWEIGHT MANAGEMENTPREVENT OBESITYLIFE EXPECTANCYUS CHILDRENobesityhealth promotionpoliciesBURDEN
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