"When it comes to public health law, it seems the least coercive path may also be the one of least resistance.
"In a new study published this month in Health Affairs, researchers found that the public does, indeed, support legal interventions aimed at curbing noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. However, they’re more likely to support interventions that create the conditions that help people make the healthy choice on their own. They’re less likely to back laws and regulations perceived as infringing on individual liberties. It’s a delicate balance, but encouraging news for public health workers....
"Luckily, people are beginning to realize that serious problems such as obesity and diabetes aren’t simply related to a person’s individual choice. It’s also the physical, organizational and social environments that shape our behaviors — “now, people are saying, ‘hold on, this isn’t just natural, it’s a logical consequence of the way we organize our communities and our society,’” said Alex Wagenaar, associate director of the Public Health Law Research Program and a professor of health outcomes and policy at the University of Florida...."
Comments (0)