Turkey has launched a controversial national campaign to tackle its rising obesity rates by publicly measuring citizens’ weight.
The initiative, titled “Learn Your Ideal Weight, Live Healthy,” aims to assess 10 million people between May 10 and July 10. Health workers are stationed in public areas across all 81 provinces to measure body mass index (BMI). Anyone with a BMI of 25 or higher is referred to health centers for nutritional counseling, according to local reports.
Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu introduced the campaign earlier this month, saying the goal is to raise awareness about chronic disease risks and promote healthier lifestyles. Memişoğlu himself participated in the initiative, admitting he was slightly over the recommended BMI and pledging to walk daily.
However, the campaign has drawn criticism. Detractors say the public weigh-ins are invasive and stigmatizing. Some liken the stations to “fat checkpoints” and argue the government is ignoring deeper issues like rising food prices, low wages, and limited access to healthy nutrition.
Turkish psychiatrist Gökben Hızlı Sayar shared her own experience on social media, saying she was forced to get measured and sarcastically warned others to avoid the area.
Turkey’s obesity rate stands at 32.1%, according to the World Health Organization—lower than the U.S. rate of 40.3%, but still a growing concern. Experts blame fast food, urban lifestyles, and economic barriers to healthy eating.
Despite criticism, the government insists the program is about education, not shame. Memişoğlu even posted a video of himself walking, captioned: “Time to get down to business. We’ll walk every day.”
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