The Dangers of the Anti-Obesity Campaign

The government recently released an anti-obesity campaign focusing on calorie labelling, a weight loss app and inevitably will lead to an increase in stigma and shame as a consequence. Obesity is an undeniably a huge issue that many people face and it does need increased funding and support to those individuals in need of help. However calorie labelling in restaurants and alcohol bottles, labelling food as "unhealthy" or "healthy" will NOT help anyone but only shame more people into an unhealthy relationship with food.

Quite rightly so Beat have given this government proposal severe backlash and labelled their response "Public Health Not Public Shaming." Beat said "Beat recognises the importance of reducing obesity, but it is vital that the public are not shamed into losing weight in an attempt to solve this problem." Obesity is such a complex issue which can be out of an individual's control and be due to underlying medical issues including eating disorders. The government therefore is shaming those who are obese, stigmatising them and not addressing the underlying issues.

The government are sending such mixed messages and are not consulting with eating disorder specialists nor Beat on this matter. They have launched two polar opposite campaigns at exactly the same moment. The "Eat Out To Help Out" and the "Anti Obesity" campaign which deliver contrasting messages regarding eating out. Hence demonstrating the lack of thought or awareness of the issues which this campaign could bring.

Those suffering with eating disorders cannot close their eyes the triggering content this campaign can bring. Simply opening up my twitter feed the first post was an Anti Obesity campaign alert advising to calorie content and exercising. An eating disorder sufferer told beat "My eating disorder makes me, and so many others, susceptible to taking these messages to the extreme." Seeing calorie content on menus can massively trigger someone with an eating disorder and if it becomes a nationwide policy could set back someones recovery massively. There are restaurants that already have calorie content displayed everywhere an example that comes to mind is Wetherspoons. However having these calories there doesn’t stop people from ordering high calorie content foods only brings an atmosphere of shame and diet talk. Something that nobody needs.

The government has not sat down once with eating disorder specialists or Beat (the Largest Eating disorder charity in the U.K.). Beat quotes that this campaign should be “about public health not public shaming.” Which is what this campaign will only bring. Mental health services especially specialist services are incredibly underfunded and having negative conversations about calories, weight and food will only make these services in more demand. Which is just one reason why more money in needed in mental health services but also this campaign needs to stop.

This campaign is a huge set back for promoting healthy relationships with food. Having cake, chocolate isn’t a bad thing if you are eating it in a healthy mindset ie not focusing on the content. Obesity should be addressed through the underlying reasons which can be due to unhealthy relationships with food, an eating disorder, mental health, physical health issues, too long working hours, financial difficulties and so much more! This campaign should be about encouraging and supporting the underlying reasons for obesity and not about public shaming!

The government is using the body mass index (BMI scale) in order to classify individuals as obese. However the BMI scale is inaccurate and is not a one size fits all approach. The BMI scale does not take into account: gender and ethnic differences, muscle size, pregnancy, athleticism, age and so forth. The BMI scale was developed by a mathematician with no background in medicine and health and is only used because it is a "simple, inexpensive and non invasive way to measure body fat."

"It's extremely disappointing that the Government have chosen to put at risk the health of people affected by eating disorders." Beat's Chief Executive Andrew Radford said. "Furthermore, we are disappointed that the Government has chosen to use language that blames people living with obesity. Instead we would like more attention to the complex causes of obesity, which for some people can include eating disorders."

Beat UK and University of Leeds Beat society absolutely urge the government to review this proposal to ensure that those with eating disorders or eating disorders are not put at further risk.

If you or anyone you know has been affected by this message or campaign please contact Beat: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Link to Beats response: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/current/public-health-not-public-shaming

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/news/anti-obesity-proposals-slammed