Paternalism Obesity and Tolerable Levels of Risk
Read the article Paternalism, Obesity, and Tolerable Levels of Risk by Michael S. Merry. Read the contents of the sub-folder labelled Ontario School Food Policy: http://edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/policy.html After reading and thinking about policies that are meant to prevent harm, respond to the following questions.
- What impact does paternalism have in public health programs and services? With respect to the Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy (OSFBP), explain how autonomy and beneficence may be in conflict with this policy. What affect does the policy have on adolescents? What outcomes do public health officials expect to achieve? What are the ultimate goals of public health officials who support school food policies?
Paternalism, Obesity, and Tolerable Levels of Risk
Obesity describes an abnormally high fat accumulation that impairs health. It is crudely measured by a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30 kg/sq meters. That is to say, if a person’s weight in kilograms divided by height in meters equals 30 or more, that person may be considered medically obese. The BMI for being overweight is 25kg/sq meters
Obesity now ranks among the highest of concerns by the World Health Organization (WHO) and not only in countries of affluence; the figures of obesity worldwide have doubled since 1980 and the problem can now commonly be found in low- and middleincome countries, especially in urban centers. The figures that map the steady rise of obesity across continents are staggering: between 20-24% of adults in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and Luxembourg are officially obese. In Mexico and the United States the figure now tops 30% (OECD 2010)….Continue Reading….