The discourse around tackling obesity is all too often drenched in shame, whether intentionally or not, and our belief is that this underlying approach, when left unchallenged, runs a significant risk of causing great harm to people who struggle with over-eating, or who have been given a diagnosis of binge-eating disorder.

Platfform welcomes the opportunity to respond to this inquiry into the prevention of ill health with a focus on obesity. For our response, we are bringing our understanding of mental health, and speak from our experience and expertise in supporting people in distress.

We  are unequivocal in our belief that we need to understand the reasons behind people’s decisions, but also recognise with humility the social conditions we have created around people. In areas of poverty, where cheap food is available that worsens people’s health, where we have people working long hours and unable to cook, or where we build over green spaces, or have unsuitable housing, or if we create systems that don’t recognise distress or emotional complexity, or if our public narratives embed shame and blame… it is no wonder that our obesity rates remain high.

Obesity is not a disease in and of itself, but a symptom of personal and community distress, and results from a system that, despite many professionals trying their hardest, cannot take action to tackle these structural challenges. We hope our response to this inquiry sets out our perspective on what needs to change and encourages open discussion and humility as we seek answers.