Obesity is known as the pandemic of the 21st Century – its cost for health services in developed countries is increasing while, in developing countries, both under nutrition and obesity co-exist as forms of malnutrition, is how Marta Guadalupe Rivera Ferre sets the scene for the Why are we fat? Session.
“Is it only a matter of the freedom to choose what we eat, or are there other driving forces behind obesity?” said Rivera Ferre. “Political and economic factors are crucial in determining obesity trends such as the economic liberalisation of the food chain. It has been suggested that since obesity is, to some extent, caused by certain types of public policies, purposeful public intervention would be required to counter it.”
