Public health experts, medical educators, obesity experts and political policy makers have brought knowledge and resources to bear in the campaign to reduce the incidence of obesity. It is nevertheless an increasing health problem in the better-off countries and in those that are developing. Doomsayers even predict that in some populations the associated Syndrome X will lead to a generation of children living less long than their parents. The authors argue the need for a different approach based on working in partnership ...
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Public health experts, medical educators, obesity experts and political policy makers have brought knowledge and resources to bear in the campaign to reduce the incidence of obesity. It is nevertheless an increasing health problem in the better-off countries and in those that are developing. Doomsayers even predict that in some populations the associated Syndrome X will lead to a generation of children living less long than their parents. The authors argue the need for a different approach based on working in partnership with the community. How does the culture in countries with high levels of obesity contribute to the problem? How can 'a culture of obesity' be changed? The authors outline how this can be done through the participation of the community. They describe examples of such partnerships as 'UNI', the Urban Nutrition Initiative, the award-winning community partnership project of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr Johnston, professor of anthropology emeritus, is the editor of three recent books on obesity and human nutrition and a much travelled scientist and field worker in central America and elsewhere.
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