As the Director of the Oxford Martin School, a population biologist and a published author in ecology, evolution and epidemiology, Sir Charles Godfray is no stranger to addressing tough societal challenges. In his recent speech at the Guildhall, the issue he tackled was the modern epidemic of obesity and how society can adapt its food system to face this issue.
According to Sir Charles Godfray, obesity is one of the biggest challenges we face today. With around 38% of the world’s population (about 2.6 billion people) being overweight or obese, the number is only increasing. While the fraction of people who are overweight has flattened, the amount of obesity “just seems to be going up” – creating an unsustainable future for the NHS.
Governments must consider other measures to incentivize individuals to be healthier. One method includes educating individuals about good diets and providing information such as food labeling. Behavioral interventions, which encourage people to do more exercise and nudge them to choose healthier options like vegetarian meals, can also be effective. However, exercise is unremittingly good in many ways, but it is not always effective in losing weight. Sir Charles recommends considering other interventions.
Government intervention has also shown significant success in helping people become healthier. Sir Charles mentioned taxes and levies, using the example of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy, or ‘sugar tax’, which came into effect in 2018. While the tax was unpopular, it eventually proved to be successful. “This is one of the occasions where it is really nice to be wrong. We thought it wouldn’t work because it wasn’t consumer-facing. And we underestimated the agility, and actually the creativity, that the soft drink industry has.”
Sir Charles also spoke about a whole new class of drugs that enable people to lose weight. These drugs assist individuals in eating less by making them feel fuller for longer. The drugs, originally developed to treat diabetes, are predicted to have a similar market value to all cancer drugs put together in the future. However, he worries about some of the issues with equity as these drugs could be expensive, putting even more pressure on individuals. Those who cannot afford the drugs will still be overweight.
Sir Charles recommends that society has a more sophisticated conversation about this development and its implications. He is worried about the medicalization of individuals who are not overweight enough to pose a danger to their health, and the potential for the joy of eating to be removed by appetite suppression. Sir Charles noted, “Do you really want to have your appetite suppressed if you’re not at a level of overweightness or obesity that is challenging your health? I enjoyed food, and probably all of you do. I worry about this, from a personal standpoint.”
In addressing obesity, governments and individuals must consider other, more sustainable measures that can work alongside education and behavior change initiatives. The issue of obesity will likely require government intervention and conditioning individuals to combat obesity, which will not only save them money but also provide a healthier and happier life.
