Turkey Launches Anti-Obesity Campaign: Citizens Weighed in Public

Turkey has initiated a campaign against obesity under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, deploying inspectors on the streets to weigh citizens. The nationwide campaign aims to combat obesity, with Turkey’s Ministry of Health even posting related photos on its Instagram account. Health officials have been dispatched to all 81 provinces with the goal of examining at least 10 million citizens by July 10. Measurements are being conducted in various locations including residential areas, squares, shopping malls, bus stops, and parks. The health workers measure the Body Mass Index (BMI) of individuals, weigh them, and provide relevant guidance. Last week, Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu noted that ‘50% of Turks are overweight,’ emphasizing the seriousness of the issue. He warned that excessive weight could lead to orthopedic and cardiac problems as children grow older. Interestingly, the minister himself was found to be slightly overweight during a recent measurement in Ankara.