Turkey Faces Backlash Over Public Weigh-Ins for Citizens in Fight Against Obesity
Turkey's controversial public weighing campaign aims to tackle obesity but sparks accusations of fat shaming and government overreach.

Turkey has launched a sweeping national campaign to curb its growing obesity crisis by publicly measuring the weight of millions of citizens, a move that has ignited both praise for its public health ambitions and criticism for what opponents describe as government overreach and public shaming.
The initiative, named "Learn Your Ideal Weight, Live Healthy," aims to assess around 10 million people across all 81 provinces between May 10 and July 10. At checkpoints set up in public squares and parks, health officials are visibly weighing and measuring individuals’ heights to calculate their Body Mass Index (BMI). Anyone with a BMI of 25 or higher—classified as overweight—is referred to local health centers for dieting consultations and nutritional monitoring.
According to Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, who spearheaded the campaign, the effort is designed to raise national awareness about the dangers of excess weight and to motivate people toward healthier lifestyles. In a bid to lead by example, Memişoğlu had his own measurements taken in front of reporters, revealing humorously that he, too, was over the recommended limit. "Which dietitian should I go to?" he joked, adding that he would begin walking daily to address his own weight concerns.
Despite these intentions, the campaign has sparked significant backlash on social media and among rights advocates. Critics contend that conducting such assessments in the open stigmatizes individuals and equates to public fat shaming. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, a psychiatrist and academic, described her experience as being "caught in a fat car showdown" in a busy Istanbul square, later recalling how she warned others about the “radar” checks ahead.
Beyond concerns about dignity and privacy, detractors also point out that Turkey’s rising obesity rates are tied to deeper issues such as the high cost of healthy food, stagnant household incomes, and increasing fast-food consumption—all factors that cannot simply be addressed by weigh-ins and counseling alone. Food affordability remains a challenge for many Turkish families as economic turbulence continues to affect the country.
Currently, Turkey has a population of about 85 million, with approximately 32.1% classified as obese according to the World Health Organization. While this remains lower than the rate in the United States, where adult obesity exceeds 40%, experts warn that Turkey’s rate has been climbing steadily due to dietary changes, urbanization, and reduced levels of physical activity.
Public health authorities defend the new campaign as a necessary wake-up call. "We have a duty to inform our society and protect their future," said Memişoğlu. The nationwide effort will continue through early July, after which health authorities will evaluate its impact as well as the public’s response to one of the country’s most visible attempts to tackle a major health challenge.