Corinna Ferros

Here are five examples of ‘ACTIONS’ that governments, inter-governmental organisations, corporations, non-governmental organisations and civil society can implement to tackle health hesitancy. It can be seen as the application at every level of society of the ‘Just One Thing’ approach by Michael Mosley. This is a very short list! There are many, many more examples ‘out there’ to implement.
The aim of these ACTIONS is to revamp our sick body politic for better health by creating better life choices and improving the life chances of the (rapidly increasing amount of) people on this planet impaired by variants like obesity, diabetes, poverty and air pollution.

1. Knowledge

Read, inform, follow, connect. What is the current thinking on nutrition? What impact does inequality have on a nation’s health? How does air pollution damage our health? There is NOT a consensus of opinion regarding the solutions to these problems, but there is an increasing consensus on recognising and acknowledging the scale and ramifications of these variants. Gain knowledge generated by other thinkers, experts and explorers and use it to define your role in reducing structural health and wealth inequalities in society, as well as making changes to your own lifestyle.

Some useful organisations and/or publications tackling Variants themes:

https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publications

https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

2. Experiment

Experiment with the food you put into your body, the way you rest and exercise your body. It is the most interesting way to experience your body – and life – differently: change the matter that maketh you, literally, by eating more or less processed food than usual, more or less sugar than usual, more or less carbohydrates than usual etc. And you will probably discover not only that matter matters, but that it is a case of ‘matter over mind’ as you reformulate your body and find your mind rewired.

Some examples of experimentation with nutrition:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/van_tulleken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as2zMlxeOkw

https://tim-spector.co.uk/

3. Messaging

Challenge the messaging around you to renorm norms and realise different dreams about whole foods and good nutrition: it doesn’t have to be billboards advertising junk food but could be be a sculpture called 'The Joy of Life' in Hyde Park.

Some ways in which messaging can be changed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0vvjwjxjg4o

https://foodtank.com/news/2016/06/eight-countries-taking-action-against-harmful-food-marketing/

https://www.foodmarketing.org/resources/food-marketing-101/food-marketing-in-other-countries/

https://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/marketing-ban-tackles-tv-ads-for-unhealthy-foods-in-chile/

4. Nature

David Hockney states during lockdown (BBC, April 2020),

We have lost touch with nature rather foolishly as we are a part of it, not outside it. This will in time be over and then what? What have we learned? I am 83 years old, I will die. The cause of death is birth.

There is a less variant version of ourselves that is closer to Nature. The health status of a society should not just be about diagnoses and access to medicine, but how much medication is available yet is not actually required.

For example, firefighters should have access to the best firefighting equipment available, but this should be used in an emergency not as a regular life-saver. Ditto tackling poverty: whilst the welfare state is essential, ideally higher wages, more employment, better health and education, lower costs of living and enough housing stock should be the core policies to prevent high levels of poverty from developing in the first place.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is identifying data trends but it can also be a form of ‘intelligent artifice’ as it steers us away from Nature through ‘smart’ datasets rather than focusing on the basics: clean air, whole foods, honest advertising and more affluence for all.

Some books about reclaiming our relationship with nature:

https://www.rachelcarson.org/silent-spring

https://amitavghosh.com/

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/31/top-10-books-about-connecting-with-nature-hannah-stowe

5. Life choices

The following sketches, done by Noemi Onofrio Toscano, are ways to think about our life choices and chances between birth and death. The first sketch is a copy of a Tracey Emin sculpture which really brings home this message in a poignant and direct way.

The second one is an adaptation of a WHO diagram of virus transmission. This version depicts various ‘transmissions’ from birth to death designed to reduce the variants that impair our quality of life, as well as suggestions for alternative life courses: whole foods, peace and dignity of work, sunshine, clean air and low-sugar foods, all of which can be reinforced through the pursuit of more e.g. exercise, arts, crafts and conversation. We can shape our life choices to change our life chances – and whilst we should encourage governments and corporations and the media to do this, we can also do this on a micro, individual level. Right. Now.

Some policies aimed at increasing life choices and life chances:

https://www.wcrf.org/policy/nutrition-policy/nourishing-framework/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-53678747

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/five-cities-tackling-air-pollution

https://www.savethechildren.net/blog/ending-child-poverty-policy-choice