Dr Nihara Krause, Clinical Pyschologist, stem4 Founder & CEO: In Response to New Govt Plans to Tackle Obesity
The government’s new focus on supporting weight management and tackling obesity has the potential to be positive in terms of health benefits. However, the messaging the government have chosen, and the way in which this matter is being approached, needs careful attention to ensure the initiative doesn’t do more harm than good.
Many individuals who are obese have disordered eating. Some will have an eating disorder called Binge Eating Disorder. These difficulties will not be addressed purely by a focus on reducing calories and increasing exercise, since the root cause is a combination of a range of psychological factors. To address this properly will require effective psychoeducation and psychological support. The messaging regarding calories, particularly the decision to display calories on menus, may also have an extreme negative impact for people who have anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa due to their existing problems with exercise misuse and restriction of food.
Terms such as ‘battle against obesity’ promotes that there is a ‘good’ side to weight (thin) and a ‘bad’ side to weight (obesity). This categorisation causes further discrimination and guilt. ‘Fat talk’ has been noted to contribute to the development of eating disorders in those vulnerable. The current messaging, which aims to create anxiety and shame about being obese, is not a good motivator for change.
The government should invest in enabling the reduction in price of good quality food, more education on preparing healthy foods, and provide more funding of psychological intervention for eating disorders, especially for obesity.
stem4 is a charity supporting positive mental health in teenagers. For more information regarding eating disorders, whether you are a young person, parent, teacher, or friend; please visit our page by clicking here.
