The Economics of Obesity and The Role of Government in Obesity Prevention: The Turkish Case

The aim of this study is twofold: one is to provide an overview of the economic theory of obesity; and the other is to discuss a public policy response to obesity, The Obesity Prevention and Control Program of Turkey. The obesity epidemic has become widely recognized as a major global health and economic problem in recent years. Therefore, in this paper, I investigate the economic causes and consequences of the weight problem, with emphasis on the role of the government in prevention policies. In this context, I consider how well the Turkish government is able to carry out these roles, and by looking at its objectives and policies, I came to the conclusion that the government has been employing a soft paternalistic approach to obesity control and reduction.