Obesity prevention: co-framing for intersectoral ‘buy-in’

Abstract

The multi-factorial causes of obesity demand integrated prevention policies with the collaboration of diverse sectors, although to date, there is little evidence of engagement by non-health sectors in developing obesity prevention policies. In this commentary, we develop a three-step argument for improving intersectoral collaboration. We first note that to encourage non-health sectors in developing and implementing integrated preventive policies, obesity should be reframed as a systemic problem rather than its dominant framing as a matter of individual behavioural change. We then propose a co-framing of obesity, such that it aligns with the policy goals of diverse non-health sectors. Finally, drawing on the network governance literature, we argue that a network-based governance approach with an independent network administrative organization will best facilitate multisectoral collaboration through a successful co-framing strategy.

Keywords:

• Obesity
• reframing
• co-framing
• Health in All Policies (HiAP)
• network governance