Motivation needed to cure lifestyle diseases

摘要

David A. King and Sandy M. Thomas in their essay 'Big lessons for a healthy future' (Nature 449, 791; 2007) describe how, in Western societies, "growing recognition of how science can contribute to health, well-being and the economy" is leading to governmental attempts to control public health. Their Foresight study suggests that by 2050, in the United Kingdom, about 60% of men, 50% of women and 25% of children will be obese, and that the associated chronic health problems will cost an additional £45.5 billion (US$93 billion) a year. To combat this, the authors propose a strategy similar to that used for climate-change policy, in which six chief advisers (and their entourages) of government departments developed a 'top-down' strategy.