The imperative of human obesity: an ethical reflection

Good health for all has become an accepted international goal. Arguably there have been broad gains in life expectancy over the past century. However, the escalating epidemic of adult obesity, estimated at more than 1 billion worldwide, has become a major public health concern. Obesity affects people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is invariably perceived as a product of biological, psychological and social conditions, thereby casting aside its ethical imperatives. Without undermining the role of medicine in managing obesity, this article proposes to discuss the need for nurses to consider relevant ethical principles when supporting people with obesity.