Tory Message to Fatties: No Excuses, No Nannying

Andrew Lansley of the British Conservative Party wants to tackle obesity. In a speech he will deliver later today, he says:

Tell people that biology and the environment causes obesity and they are offered the one thing we have to avoid—an excuse.

People who see more fat people around them may themselves be more likely to gain weight. Peer pressure and social norms are powerful influences on behaviour and they are classic excuses.

Our need, and not just in relation to public health issues, is to act on the environment, while fostering positive peer pressure and social norms. We have to take away the excuses.

Nor is this about telling people what to do. Tackling the environment should not be a licence to lecture people, because they have no excuse not to exercise, or eat their fruit and vegetables.

Nannying—at least among adults—is likely to be counter-productive. If we are realistic about the impact of social norms and peer influence in affecting behaviour, we must also realise that we should not be nannying people.

Providing information is empowering, lecturing people is not. So, no excuses, no nannying.

He’s probably right, but it’s tough love for those of us who are fighting overweight. And I don’t like the proposed stronger controls of food advertisement. It goes against the idea that people are free to act. Besides, I don’t know a single overeater who doesn’t know it’s a bad habit. Stricter rules for advertisers will do nothing to curb unhealthy eating.

(Via Tory Diary.)