Thread by @DrJinRussell

"Obesity is increasing in every country around the world, and if the Leader of the Opposition puts this down to a global collapse of willpower, or globally everybody wanting to be fat, that's just shallow and wrong thinking.” Prof ⁦@BoydSwinburn⁩ newshub.co.nz/home/politics/…

Obesity is *not* lack of willpower.
- 1 in 3 adults in NZ are obese
- 1 in 10 NZ children obese
- rising obesity overseas and with rise in modernity
- genetic factors at play

Putting all this on personal responsibility creates obesity stigma, which harms our patients. Stop.

In 2018, @TheRACP launched its obesity position statement. Our working group chair @BoydSwinburn described the “obesogenic environment” which works to systematically drive obesity in society, it requires a whole of society approach
racp.edu.au/news-and-event…

@izzyelle @_wild_world

The position statement itself outlines recommendations for evidence-based policies to systematically tip the balance in favour of preventing obesity, and a call to end weight bias amongst health professionals

racp.edu.au/docs/default-s…

To understand how obesity is systematically increasing in society, we need a more sophisticated understanding of the context (“environments”) within which we humans are able to make (some) decisions for ourselves. Being able to afford “healthy” perishable foods, to live close...

Enough to amenities, school or work to be able to avoid using a car, to live in societies where children are protected from targeted marketing of sugary drinks, and living in advantaged neighbourhoods which are not systematically targeted w fast food outlets, having the optimal..

Genetic deck of cards - all of these are largely outside of our control yet massively impactful on our individual choices.

We need strong government action on obesity to tip the balance back in our favour. /end