Overweight and Obesity are a public health crisis that impacts millions of people throughout the world. Its far more than a cosmetic issue: the health complications are incredibly serious and include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, many cancers and more. Despite increased awareness of the problem (let’s face it, walk up any high street and you can hardly miss it!) and despite endless government strategies and seemingly innovative solutions, obesity rates continue to rise in the UK and worldwide.
Groundbreaking approaches like ProLongevity’s tailored programs (we call it “precision nutrition” ) and cutting-edge new treatments such as Mounjaro (tirzepatide) offer great hope. But huge public health challenges – particularly the ubiquity of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – remain a key obstacle. Drawing on insights from Dr Chris van Tulleken’s recent BBC documentary, Irresistible: Why We Can’t Stop Eating, and Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy, this blog explores why efforts to combat obesity have completely failed and describes how we can still turn back the tide of obesity
The Obesogenic Environment: A Systemic Challenge
The food industry would have us believe that its all our fault: we just need to take personal responsibility “eat less/ move more.” But this is simply a smokescreen which gaslights the victim while exonerating the propagator. Obesity really isn’t about individual choices – it’s the direct result of an “obesogenic environment” where unhealthy, cheap, ultra-processed foods dominate and healthier lifestyles are inaccessible for many. According to Henry Dimbleby, (Son of national treasure, David) this environment actively promotes overconsumption. He emphasizes the role of government and industry in perpetuating a food system that prioritises profit over public health.
Chris van Tulleken’s BBC documentary dives deep into the addictive nature of UPFs, which now constitute over half of the UK diet. These foods are carefully engineered to trigger reward systems in the brain, creating a cycle of dependency and overconsumption. (Its really no different than smoking or alcohol addiction) Without government regulation to curb the dominance of UPFs, meaningful progress against obesity will remain unattainable
Food Addiction: A Hidden Culprit
As detailed in ProLongevity’s blog on food addiction, ultra-processed foods are not only unhealthy but also addictive. Combining excessive amounts of sugar, fat, and salt, these foods hijack the brain’s reward system, creating behaviours similar to those seen with smoking, drugs and alcohol. This makes it extraordinarily difficult for individuals to resist them, even when they are aware of the health risks.
Food addiction is often overlooked or dismissed, but it is a critical piece of the obesity puzzle. ProLongevity emphasizes that addressing this issue requires national action, such as stricter food regulations and better public education about the risks of UPFs.
The Promise of ProLongevity’s Program
The ProLongevity program offers a science-backed, personalized approach to tackling obesity and related conditions. Unlike traditional weight-loss strategies, which have simply failed to address the root causes of obesity, ProLongevity uses continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology to tailor interventions (precision nutrition) to each individual. This helps users understand their unique responses and eliminate the triggers that lead to overeating and poor dietary choices.
The program’s emphasis on education and actionable strategies – uch as optimising insulin levels and avoiding processed foods – empowers our clients to break free from the cycle of weight gain. However, systemic barriers, such as food addiction and the widespread availability of UPFs, must also be addressed if we are to create sustainable progress as a nation.
Mounjaro: A Game-Changing Obesity Treatment
Mounjaro (tirzepatide), the latest weight-loss medication, represents a breakthrough in obesity management. As highlighted in ProLongevity’s detailed blog on Mounjaro, this injectable medication is more effective than previous treatments like Wegovy and Ozempic. By mimicking hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar, Mounjaro helps patients achieve substantial weight loss and improved metabolic health.
Yet, despite its promise, Mounjaro is not a standalone solution. Its high cost limits accessibility for many, and it does not address the fundamental issues that drive obesity. ProLongevity argues that combining medical treatments like Mounjaro with lifestyle interventions and systemic reforms is the most effective path forward.
Policy Failures and Lessons from Henry Dimbleby
One of the major reasons we’ve failed to tackle obesity is the lack of bold, systemic policy interventions. In his National Food Strategy, Henry Dimbleby outlines key recommendations, including:
- Taxing sugar and salt to incentivise reformulation.
- Restricting advertising of unhealthy foods, especially to children.
- Improving access to healthy, affordable food, particularly in low-income areas.
However, these recommendations have faced political resistance and lobbying from the food industry, which continues to prioritise profits over public health. As Dimbleby notes in his piece for The Grocer, voluntary pledges from the food industry have failed to produce meaningful results, and mandatory regulations are urgently needed.
Dimbleby’s call for a more coordinated approach, echoed in the Nesta report Nourishing Britain, highlights the importance of tackling obesity through a multi-sectoral lens that includes healthcare, education, and agriculture.
The Economic Inequality Factor
Economic disparities play a significant role in the obesity epidemic. As highlighted by ProLongevity, individuals in low-income communities are disproportionately affected by obesity because they often lack access to affordable, healthy food options. Ultra-processed foods are cheaper and more convenient, making them the default choice for many.
Addressing these inequalities requires targeted interventions, such as:
- Subsidising fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Expanding access to weight-loss programs like ProLongevity.
- Improving food availability in underserved areas.
Without addressing these systemic inequalities, obesity will remain an entrenched problem for the most vulnerable populations.
Public Awareness and Education
Public health campaigns have traditionally focused on raising awareness about the risks of obesity and promoting healthier lifestyles. However, as Chris van Tulleken’s documentary illustrates, these campaigns fail to address the root causes of overeating, such as food addiction and the ubiquity of UPFs.
ProLongevity advocates for a shift in messaging – away from blaming individuals and toward empowering them with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate a food environment deliberately designed to encourage overconsumption. Integrating this approach with national and international policy changes would make a meaningful difference.
The Way Forward: A Comprehensive Approach
To combat obesity effectively, a multi-pronged strategy is essential:
- Policy Reforms: Implement mandatory sugar taxes, regulate food advertising, and improve food labelling to promote healthier choices.
- Systemic Change: Tackle the dominance of UPFs in the food supply through stricter regulations and incentives for healthier product reformulation.
- Medical Innovation: Expand access to medications like Mounjaro but integrate them into holistic treatment plans.
- Education and Empowerment: Equip individuals with tools like ProLongevity’s CGM technology to enable them to take control of their own health.
- Economic Inequality: Address food insecurity and affordability to ensure everyone has access to nutritious options.
Conclusion
The failure to halt the obesity epidemic is not due to a lack of knowledge or the absence of solutions. It’s a failure of action by governments of different complexions over multiple decades. Innovative, personalised programs like ProLongevity, medical breakthroughs like Mounjaro, and systemic recommendations from experts like Henry Dimbleby all point the way forward. However, these efforts must be integrated into a broader strategy that tackles the root causes of obesity, from the addictive nature of UPFs to economic inequalities.
By embracing bold policies, system-wide reforms, and personalised interventions, we can finally begin to reverse the obesity epidemic and create a healthier future for all. To learn more about combating obesity and achieving better health, visit ProLongevity’s blog.