Ethics and Childhood Obesity Prevention Policy

Preventing obesity in children is the best solution to lower overall obesity rates, experts argue. This thesis evaluates the ethics of some controversial policies to prevent childhood obesity: bans on trans fats (TFs), particular family-based interventions, and body mass index (BMI) measurement programs in schools. I develop an ethics framework with which to systematically evaluate these policies. I find that the family-based interventions and BMI measurement programs in question may be acceptable if they are designed to minimise harms and to support parents. However, TF bans and similar policies would be much more ethically acceptable and should be prioritised.