Turkey is taking a bold step in its battle against obesity with a new initiative that has sparked considerable debate.
The country has embarked on a nationwide campaign, "Learn Your Ideal Weight, Live Healthy," aimed at measuring citizens' weight in public spaces to address its escalating obesity rates. This initiative, however, has been met with criticism, with detractors labeling it as public fat shaming and an example of government overreach.
According to Fox News, the campaign plans to assess approximately 10 million people between May 10 and July 10. Those identified as overweight will be directed to health centers for nutritional counseling and monitoring by dietitians, as reported by Turkish Minute.
The initiative's primary objective is to raise awareness about the dangers of chronic weight issues and to encourage healthier lifestyles among the populace.
Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memi?o?lu unveiled the initiative, noting that health personnel would conduct measurements in public areas across all 81 provinces. Images shared on social media by Turkey's health ministry depict officials measuring individuals' height before guiding them onto scales at designated checkpoints.
These measurements are used to calculate the body mass index (BMI), a standard metric for determining whether a person has a healthy weight relative to their height. Individuals with a BMI of 25 or higher will be referred to health centers for further assistance.
The initiative has faced backlash, with critics arguing that it is invasive and stigmatizing, effectively amounting to public fat shaming. Some opponents contend that the government is failing to address broader issues contributing to obesity, such as rising food prices, stagnant wages, and limited access to affordable nutrition.
Gkben H?zl? Sayar, a Turkish psychiatrist and academic, expressed her discontent by comparing the stations to "fat check points" and recounting her own experience of being measured. "I got caught in a fat car showdown in skdar Square," she wrote on X, adding a humorous note about warning others.
Despite the criticism, Health Minister Memi?o?lu emphasized that the initiative's goal is to inform the public and promote healthier living. In a gesture of solidarity, Memi?o?lu himself participated in the measurements, revealing that he exceeded the healthy limit. "Which dietitian should I go to?" he quipped to reporters, later acknowledging, "turns out I'm a little over. It's up to me now, I'll be walking every day," as reported by Turkish Minute. He further demonstrated his commitment by posting a video of himself walking, captioned, "it's time to get down to business, we'll walk every day."
Turkey, with a population of approximately 85 million, has an obesity rate of around 32.1%, according to the World Health Organization. This figure is notably lower than the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an adult obesity rate of 40.3%. Experts attribute Turkey's obesity rate to factors such as increased fast-food consumption, economic barriers to accessing healthy food, and urbanization leading to reduced physical activity, as noted by Turkey Today.
As Turkey navigates this controversial initiative, the debate continues over the balance between public health efforts and individual privacy, with broader socio-economic factors also playing a critical role in the nation's obesity challenge.
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