Controlling the obesity pandemic: Geoffrey Rose revisited

The ongoing obesity pandemic threatens the health of hundreds of millions globally. However, to date, no country has had much success in limiting its growth, let alone reversing it. This commentary demonstrates the relevance to the obesity pandemic of the public health conceptual framework of epidemiologist Geoffrey Rose, first published as Sick Individuals and Sick Populations in 1985. That framework provides a useful way to analyze the pandemic's prevention and control options, based on the notions of primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention-the full spectrum of more upstream and more downstream approaches, each with its pros and cons. Based on an analysis of key studies to date, this commentary argues strongly that only the primordial prevention approach is likely to be successful against the obesity pandemic-but its onerous requirements for society-wide behavioural and cultural change may make that public health struggle a long one.

Automated summary

This commentary highlights the importance of using the primordial prevention approach to combat the obesity pandemic, which may require significant societal behavioral and cultural changes, making the public health struggle a long one.