Obesity: From Personal Blame to Global Action – A Turning Point in 2025
By Giulia Bosi, PhD
The world is finally waking up to the obesity crisis, but are we doing enough?
For decades, obesity has been largely dismissed as a result of individual laziness or lack of willpower. But 2025 marked a seismic shift, with governments and international bodies stepping in to treat it as the complex public health emergency it truly is.
While public health policies have historically prioritized infectious diseases, the tide is turning. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, heart disease, and obesity are now taking center stage. This year, we’ve seen a flurry of groundbreaking legal and policy changes aimed at tackling obesity from every angle.
And this is the part most people miss... It’s not just about personal responsibility anymore. Countries are recognizing the systemic factors driving obesity and taking bold steps to address them.
Take Italy, for instance. In October 2025, it became the first nation to legally classify obesity as a chronic, progressive, and relapsing disease. This means people with obesity now have guaranteed access to essential care through the National Health Service—a game-changer for millions.
Meanwhile, Vietnam introduced its first-ever tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in July 2025, a move aimed at curbing consumption of these obesity-linked drinks. Across the pond, the UK is planning to ban energy drinks like Monster and Red Bull for under-16s, citing their harmful effects on sleep, concentration, and weight.
But here’s where it gets controversial... In December, San Francisco filed a landmark lawsuit against 10 food giants, including Nestlé USA, Kellogg, and Coca-Cola. The city alleges these companies are peddling ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that fuel obesity, and it’s demanding they stop misleading ads and pony up for the health costs their products incur.
These developments signal a major shift: obesity is no longer seen as a personal failing but as a societal issue requiring collective action. Governments are waking up to the role of the food and beverage industry in driving unhealthy habits—and they’re not afraid to regulate.
But is it enough?
While these strides are commendable, there’s still a long way to go. For example, the European Commission’s decision to abandon the Nutri-Score—a simple, front-of-pack nutrition label—feels like a step backward. This tool could have empowered consumers to make healthier choices, but it’s now gathering dust.
And let’s not forget: any policy must respect the right to health, a fundamental human right. This means holding food companies accountable for transparency, discouraging unhealthy products, and helping people make informed decisions.
So, what do you think?
Is obesity primarily a personal responsibility, or should governments and corporations bear more of the burden? Are these new laws and lawsuits the right approach, or do they go too far? Let’s keep the conversation going—because when it comes to tackling obesity, we’re all in this together.
Giulia Bosi, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher in International Law at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy.
