While I agree theoretically that it comes down to the individual, I think one needs to look at the reality of the situation, which in this case is that on a whole people aren't eating what's good for them or properly and the obesity epidemic is so ubiquitous that it's affecting society in general, even us non-fatties. One could argue that we shouldn't have to tell people not to smoke or drive while drunk because it is common sense that there are adverse health affects in doing so. However, I think the anti-tobacco campaigns over the last 20 years is one of the most successful examples of government action having an enormous and vital positive effect on public health. (I'm also a big supporter of MADD) Considering how many fast food chains sponsor school cafeterias or the whole push towards marketing fat-free food as the key to healthy dieting, I personally would be in favour of an increase in regulation that improves the quality of food in schools or institutes "sin taxes" on soda/fast food similar to taxes on cigarettes and tanning beds. I believe Mexico has banned targeted advertising of junk food to children, which I also think is a positive thing (just like you can't advertise alcohol or tobacco to kids). At the end of the day, society needs obesity rates to drop significantly, because we simply won't be able to afford the necessary health care required to treat obesity-related illnesses and also we will suffer from the lack of human capital when the majority of people start dying in their 50s. This isn't me being sympathetic to fatties, it's just understanding the reality that clearly these people aren't making the right choices on their own and arent at all educating their children on good habits. (Cue Mrs. Lovejoy's "won't some please think of the children!") So for the benefit of everyone else and future generations, maybe intergrating nutrition education into school curriculums or having some form of widespread condemnation campaign regarding obesity would be useful.