I am currently researching and creating a Slideshow for a client on the topic of ‘Obesity’ – the same thing that Jamie Oliver rants about here and the same things that Nicholas Christakis discusses here at TED (which is a great video as her asserts the notion that Obesity is contagious and spreads through social networks!).

As an aside … as I bookmark ‘obesity-related’ websites on Delicious here, I am again thinking about how much has changed since I was researching topics at Uni 20 years ago!

The most graphic things I have come across (so far) are 2 videos put out by the New York City Health Department. Both are designed to communicate a single message … “Drink less sugary soda drinks because it will make you fat and unhealthy”. These videos are sure to help people remember the message (STICK) and share it with networks (‘SLIPPY’ – a term coined by Mark Earls here)

The first one – which is slightly comical but drives home a point nonetheless

Here’s the second one with a gross-factor amplified on the first

So, to all my colleagues in the sustainability field who are trying to enable change … what do we learn from our friends over in the health field? Strikes me that we are all trying to do the same thing … with the same group of people. When are we going to bring our stories of change together? Global Health (climate change etc) meets Human Health (obesity, happiness) …

Cheers, Geoff