‘Let them choose not to eat cake...’: Public health ethics, effectiveness and equity in government obesity strategy

Abstract

With a focus on obesity strategy, this paper examines and explains questions of ethics and equity in public health policy. We identify and explain the dynamics at play in assigning individual and social/political responsibility for health, in the context of policies that rely heavily on the exercise of individual agency. The paper builds on an earlier scientific study by one of the authors, expanding the analysis through reference to public health ethics, and social ethics more broadly.