Obesity: the elephant in the corner

Ogilvie, D. and Hamlet, N. (2005) Obesity: the elephant in the corner. British Medical Journal, 331(7531), pp. 1545-1548. (doi: 10.1136/bmj.331.7531.1545)

Abstract

To date, our approach to obesity has largely been based on a simple individualistic prescription to balance energy intake against energy expenditure. This approach works for some of the people, some of the time, but is clearly not working at population level. Recognising the importance of the obesogenic environment was a crucial step forward in understanding the causes of, and potential solutions to, the emerging obesity epidemic. However, our current “environmental” responses to obesity amount to little more than marginal changes, and ignore the fact that the obesogenic environment is itself the product of the way we have chosen to organise our society. The only realistic prospect of reversing the growth in obesity lies in a decision to adopt a different set of societal priorities.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ogilvie, David
• Authors: Ogilvie, D., and Hamlet, N.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Centre for Population and Health Sciences
• Journal Name: British Medical Journal
• Journal Abbr.: BMJ
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0959-535X
• ISSN (Online): 1756-1833
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2005 British Medical Assocation
• First Published: First published in British Medical Journal 331(7531):88-93
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher