Foresight report on obesity
2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 370; Issue: 9601 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0140-6736(07)61739-5
ISSN1474-547X
Autores Tópico(s)Obesity and Health Practices
ResumoAndrew Jack's cynical claim that the conclusions of the Foresight report on obesity are driven by political correctness (Nov 3, p 1528)1Jack A Obesity plan lacks foresight.Lancet. 2007; 370: 1528-1529Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar is absurd. He misses a crucial point in the Foresight process: the report has the ownership of the scientists who produced it; now that their work is complete, it is the task of Government ministers to deliver a political response. The Foresight Programme is led by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and guided by evidence, not political expediency. Reference to the 38 reviews of scientific and other evidence, summarised in the final report, makes clear the overwhelming scientific consensus that modern life has become a major driver of obesity. The report concludes that individual responsibility is important but insufficient to tackle obesity on its own. Crucially, it emphasises that political responsibility for tackling obesity lies not only with the Department of Health but across Government. The system map, coupled with the projections (not “guesstimates”) using well established modelling techniques, have been pivotal in making the case for radical change away from single-focused interventions to a comprehensive, long-term strategy. It is for multiple government departments, and not Foresight, to draw up specific integrated policies. Contrary to Jack's assertion, the system map is a serious piece of work which will be used to develop and test future policies and strategies. The report acknowledges that evidence for successful prevention strategies is limited but our quantitative predictions confirm that there is no time for prevarication. To dismiss this unique collaboration between biological and social scientists, health professionals, industry representatives, voluntary organisations, and policymakers as prevaricating and hand-wringing seriously misjudges the importance and relevance of the report. Moreover, the Government's initial response to our proposals has been very encouraging. I declare that I have no conflict of interest. Foresight report on obesity – Author's replyA humble layman struggling to find meat hidden in the flab of the Foresight report I may be; a cynic I am not. Nor am I only interested in pharmaceuticals, any more than I would presume Klim McPherson and colleagues to have no interests in life beyond their job titles. I share the view that obesity has many interrelated causes, prevention is key, and governments have a large role to play.1 I am not convinced we needed 2 years of Foresight research to tell us that. Full-Text PDF
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