Ethics dilemmas of early detection of obesity

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ethics dilemmas of early detection of obesity

AU - Vallgårda, Signild

PY - 2016/8/1

Y1 - 2016/8/1

N2 - Aim: To discuss the ethics dilemmas of the early detection of overweight and obesity. Methods: Analysis of the ethical aspects of early detection. Results: The early detection of overweight and obesity entails a number of ethical dilemmas because it may both be helpful and harmful. It may help people to lead a healthier life and non-detection could be considered neglectful. It may, however, cause anxiety, interfere with people's integrity, focus only on individual causes and responsibilities, cause stigmatization and have adverse effects by inducing weight gain. Conclusions: Documentation of more positive than negative effects is required before early detection is introduced.

AB - Aim: To discuss the ethics dilemmas of the early detection of overweight and obesity. Methods: Analysis of the ethical aspects of early detection. Results: The early detection of overweight and obesity entails a number of ethical dilemmas because it may both be helpful and harmful. It may help people to lead a healthier life and non-detection could be considered neglectful. It may, however, cause anxiety, interfere with people's integrity, focus only on individual causes and responsibilities, cause stigmatization and have adverse effects by inducing weight gain. Conclusions: Documentation of more positive than negative effects is required before early detection is introduced.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Obesity

KW - Detection

KW - ethics

U2 - 10.1177/1403494816652538

DO - 10.1177/1403494816652538

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 27255205

SN - 1403-4948

VL - 44

SP - 543

EP - 545

JO - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica

JF - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica

IS - 6

ER -