BMJ  2007;335:1241-1243 (15 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39377.622882.47

Analysis

Unequal weight: equity oriented policy responses to the global obesity epidemic

¹ Commission on Social Determinants of Health, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, ² Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Capetown, South Africa, ³ Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA

doi: 10.1136/bmj.39409.451678.ADdoi: 10.1136/bmj.39423.452106.AD

The health professions need to spearhead a concerted intersectoral response to obesity, say Sharon Friel, Mickey Chopra, and David Satcher

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Obesity is a global problem, unequally distributed between and within countries. In affluent societies excess weight is more common among socially disadvantaged groups,¹ but the inverse is true in low income countries (fig 1).²

View larger version (43K):   Fig 1 Age standardised prevalence ratio for obesity in women in low, lower-middle, and upper-middle income economies, 1992-2000 (Source: Montiero et al)

 

The global obesity epidemic is unequally distributed within and between countries It is being fuelled by economic and psychosocial factors as well as increased availability of energy dense food and reduced physical activity Tackling it requires concerted action at national and international level to promote a more equal distribution of affordable nutritious food, and improved, more equitable, living and working conditions

Obesity and its unequal distribution is a consequence of the complex system operating at global, national, and local levels, shaping how we trade, live, learn, and work. Focusing only on direct action . . . [Full text of this article]

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