Who is listening to WHO?

Abstract

There have been numerous attempts by the WHO (World Health Organization) to recognize and support actions to fight obesity. However, it was not until 1995 that the WHO identified overweight as the most significant cause of ill health rather than underweight in many developing countries. In the first special obesity consultation in 1997 the escalating medical costs globally were highlighted [1]. The conclusion was that overweight and obesity were replacing more traditional problems such as undernutrition and infectious diseases as the most significant causes of ill-health [2]. Obesity comorbidities such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and stroke, certain types of cancer, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease, dyslipidaemia, osteoarthritis and gout, pulmonary disease including sleep apnoea were given as examples in the 1997 special obesity consultation. Furthermore, individuals with obesity suffered from social bias, prejudice and discrimination, by both the general public and health professionals [2]. In spite of this awareness neither local governments nor the WHO have been successful in changing the societal framework to promote routine spontaneous physical activity and transforming the food system. Low energy-density food of high nutrient quality has not become the norm [1]. There was an interesting attempt in Istanbul to engage the broad European political level [3]. The Swedish government presented 79 steps to engage different parts of the society with actions divided into different political areas [4]. The different responsible bodies in the Swedish proposals were the national government, local governments, different authorities (national board of health, national board of public health, regulator authority for buildings, national school authority, traffic authority, food authority, agriculture authority, consumer authority etc.), national sports associations, health care etc. The principle to point out specific parts of the society as responsible, regardless if it was a state authority or an association, gave a good possibility to plan future actions. However, no financial support was given, and no specific actions were ever taken. The WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity has proposed an implementation plan [5], which was approved by the 70 World Health Assembly on 31 May 2017. It pointed out that almost three quarters of the 42 million children under 5 years who are overweight CHILD AND ADOLESCENT OBESITY 2018, VOL. 1, NO. 1, 1–4 https://doi.org/10.1080/2574254X.2018.1477495