Important to understand that obesity is complex and people should not be stigmatised.

World obesity day encourages people to think about obesity which affects people of all ages, from all social groups in both developed and developing countries.

People with obesity are often shamed and blamed because many - including doctors, policymakers, and others - do not fully understand the root causes of obesity, which are often a complex mixture of dietary, lifestyle, genetic, psychological, sociocultural, economic and environmental factors.

It is time we break the cycle of shame and blame and re-evaluate our approach to addressing this complex problem. For people with severe weight problems, it is vital to provide support, access to medical services and encourage research to find new weight loss treatments.