Check Out Turkey’s "Know Your Weight, Live Healthy" Campaign to Fight Obesity

Turkey’s Ministry of Health has kicked off a new awareness campaign called “Know Your Ideal Weight, Live a Healthy Life”, aiming to tackle obesity across the country.

As part of the campaign, health workers are checking the Body Mass Index (BMI) of 10 million people in public places like town squares, shopping malls, bus stations, and stadiums.

The Ministry said this initiative will take place in all 81 provinces of Turkey. Health staff are out measuring the height and weight of people passing by.

If someone’s BMI is 25 or higher, they’ll be referred to state-run family health centers and wellness centers to get free nutrition advice and regular follow-ups.

One of the first campaign stops was in Süleymanpaşa, in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ. There, health teams set up a booth in a local market and started checking people’s measurements.

The Ministry said the campaign comes in response to rising obesity rates in Turkey. According to the World Health Organization, around 30% of the Turkish population is obese.