• Turkey’s new public weighing campaign targets overweight people to reduce obesity nationwide, and Turkey is weighing people as a strategy in this fight.
• Health workers measure BMI in public and refer those over 25 to free nutrition centers, illustrating how Turkey is weighing people to address health concerns.
• The program faces criticism for public weighing and concerns over food prices and privacy, indicating mixed feelings about how Turkey is weighing people.

Turkey has started a new campaign to weigh people in public places. Health workers stop people in busy areas like parks, shopping malls, bus stops, and football stadiums. They quickly measure height and weight to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). If someone’s BMI shows they are overweight, officials tell them to lose weight. Turkey is weighing people to raise awareness and help reduce obesity in the country.

Health Teams Cover All 81 Regions with a Goal to Check Millions

Health inspectors have spread out across all 81 provinces of Turkey. They carry portable scales and measuring tapes. The government wants to screen 10 million people by July 10. Inspectors stop passersby for spot BMI checks in crowded public places. If a person’s BMI is over 25, they refer them to state health centers for free counseling. The campaign tries to reach one in every eight Turks. Turkey is weighing people as part of a bigger plan to improve public health nationwide.

Health Minister Warns Half the Population Is Overweight

Turkey’s Health Minister, Kemal Memi?o?lu, recently spoke at a nursing conference. He said half of Turkey’s population is overweight. He stressed that being overweight leads to serious health problems. Memi?o?lu pointed out that young children also face this issue. He explained that overweight children may seem healthy now but will face diseases like diabetes and heart problems later. He called overweight a sickness that causes future health risks.

Minister Faces the Scale and Promises to Take Action

Last week, the Health Minister stepped on the scales himself. Officials told him he weighed more than normal. He asked jokingly which dietitian he should visit. Later, on social media, he admitted he needed to lose weight. He promised to start walking every day. His openness shows that obesity affects all social groups in Turkey, even government leaders.

Public Reacts with Humor and Criticism to Weighing Checks

People have mixed feelings about the campaign. Some share funny stories online. Psychiatrist Gökben H?zl? Sayar wrote about being stopped at a “fat checkpoint.” She joked that she warned others to avoid the area. But many criticize the campaign’s public approach. They say weighing people in public shames them. Some argue the government ignores big problems like rising food prices and low wages. These factors make healthy eating difficult for many families.

Campaign Focuses on “Know Your Weight, Live Healthy”

The government calls the campaign a “national fight against obesity.” It began on May 10 under the slogan “Know your weight, live healthy.” The aim is to encourage people to monitor their weight and adopt healthier lifestyles. Officials want to identify overweight people early and offer them help, showing how Turkey is weighing people to achieve this goal. The campaign sends people with high BMI scores to Family Health and Healthy Life centers. There, people get free advice on nutrition and exercise.

Concerns Raised About Timing and Government Motives

A Turkish newspaper, Evrensel, questioned the timing of the campaign. It started the same week Turkey introduced a new weight loss injection. The paper called this a “strange coincidence.” Some suspect the campaign may also promote new medical treatments. Critics say the government focuses more on quick fixes than long-term solutions.

High Obesity Rates and WHO Warnings

The World Health Organization estimated in 2023 that about 30% of Turks are obese. Experts warn that Turkey’s obesity problem needs serious attention. However, they also caution against relying only on BMI to judge obesity. BMI is a simple tool but does not measure body fat accurately for everyone.

Experts Say BMI Alone Cannot Diagnose Obesity

More than 50 experts from the Lancet Commission recommend diagnosing obesity only when a person suffers health problems caused by excess fat. These include diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. BMI works well for studying large groups but can mislabel individuals. For example, many athletes have a high BMI due to muscle mass but are not obese.

Understanding BMI: What the Numbers Mean

BMI calculates body fat by using weight and height. Doctors use ranges to classify people. A BMI under 18.5 means underweight. Between 18.5 and 25 is healthy. Between 25 and 29.9 is overweight. Above 30 counts as obese. This simple scale helps track weight trends in populations. But it does not account for muscle, bone density, or other factors that affect weight.

BMI Limitations Highlighted by Researchers

Dr. Arya Sharma, an obesity researcher, says BMI can be misleading. He explains that many athletes appear overweight or obese by BMI standards. They carry more muscle, which weighs more than fat. That means BMI does not always reflect true health or body fat. Experts urge doctors to consider other measures and health factors before labeling someone obese.