Obesity: a complex and frustrating challenge but is NICE guidance part of the problem as well as part of the solution?

摘要

The Imperial War Museum, in their Ministry of Food exhibition, demonstrated that our knowledge of nutrition was well advanced at the time of the Second World War. By proactively promoting and enforcing (to some degree) a cooperative approach; the political will and rationing, the food needs of the population were met (note the word 'needs' not 'wants'). The 'luxury' foods and 'treats' were well known; meat, sweats and bananas for example; and were 'luxury' because they needed more input and resources than was justified for the return or output. Yet like prohibition, people craved what they couldn't have and when rationing was over, budget was the main restraint along with availability and capacity. In looking back to this time we see a number of intervention strategies being implemented; some directly impacted on agriculture, trade, restaurants as well as the workplace and workforce; but many focused on individuals and families, guiding them to be efficient and inventive. We can't return to such austere approaches but we can consider what factors were relevant in achieving their goal of a population able to have adequate food, manage limited resources and adapt to change.