Obesity and Individual Responsibility

It doesn't matter what kind of action various governments take to tackle obesity if individuals are not prepared to accept that it is their own responsibility to control their weight. Throughout the developed world obesity is a growing problem, putting pressure on health services and affecting people's ability to work and therefore contribute to the economy. Governments thus feel the need to act in order to be seen to do something and to try to reverse this serious situation. Consequently, ideas such as taxing fatty foods and soft drinks have been put forward, whilst educational campaigns have also been created.

However, individuals have to recognise that their weight is a problem if they're going to bother to do anything about it. In a society where a significant proportion of the population is overweight or obese, this situation seems normal and so individuals may not even realise the implications of their weight for their health. Therefore, promoting a healthier approach to eating and exercise may be a good thing for those ignorant about such matters. Yet, the majority of people do not like being talked down to and told what to do. Most individuals know that to lose weight they have to reduce their calorie intake and do more exercise.

Just as people may be inclined to ignore health advice when they feel that it doesn't apply to them or when they feel that politicians are just sticking their noses into their business, slapping a tax on the 'wrong' kinds of foods and drinks is unlikely to have any significant effect. Taking such action probably won't do much to encourage individuals to make healthier choices when they enjoy eating junk food and do not have the time to prepare balanced, nutritious meals. It is therefore a waste of time to try to push people into doing things they don't want to do, which means that it is up to individuals to recognise the impact their weight could have on their life.

This won't stop politicians and policy makers from trying, though, as rising obesity levels do not only have implications for the individuals concerned, but also for wider society. As people get heavier, they develop more health problems, which obviously require treatment that costs money. If they can't work because of their health they are unlikely to pay anything in tax and as obesity spreads, the more pressure there is on health provision, whilst tax revenues take a hit. That is why governments are so keen to encourage individuals to take steps to keep their weight under control, even though the initiatives they come up will do very little.

At the end of the day, individuals have to get their heads out of the sand and acknowledge when their weight is a problem, so that they can take appropriate action. If individuals aren't bothered about their weight, it doesn't really matter what political action is taken – nothing is going to change.