Fat fighters
by Jack Stilgoe
One expert told the assembled gang, all of whom could proudly see their own shoes, that we already knew what the answer is ' less energy in, more energy out. I'm still not sure what the question is. And if the answer is so easy, why isn't it working? Why is Britain getting so fat so quickly? I learnt a huge amount about trends, models, causes and cures over the day. But the only real insight came from a Lisa Doherty, who works for an organisation called TOAST (The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust). She talks to fat people every day. She is interested in what obesity means to them ' how it happens, how it relates to the choices they make and the way they feel about themselves.
We both wondered why there were no fat people at the event. If scientific advice about obesity is going to mean anything, to be credible, well-informed and trustworthy, scientists need to start listening. This foresight project is a fascinating opportunity to take a new approach to an issue that is not simply scientific, and whose solutions will never be simply technological. It will force together science, social science and personal narrative in a fascinating way. I'd really like Demos to get involved. Any ideas?