New technologies have led to revisiting of the individual-collective relation in public health and to questions of their impact on health inequalities The upholding of ‘choice’ coincides with new forms of stratification No consistency in argument Examples: nutrigenetics, obesity and functional foods | A Lancaster – Cardiff collaboration Genes, drugs and food Ruth Chadwick Director, CESAGen Lancaster University Outline New technologies have led to revisiting of the individual-collective relation in public health and to questions of their impact on health inequalities They have the potential to reduce or increase health inequalities Issues Opportunity costs Access and benefit-sharing Choice? The upholding of ‘choice’ coincides with new forms of stratification No consistency in argument Examples: nutrigenetics, obesity and functional foods Not in itself surprising that there is no consistency in argument but it is important to clarify where the inconsistencies arise Two White Papers (UK): two strategies we will learn more about the genetic features of common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and the way external factors such as diet and smoking interact with our genes to increase the likelihood of developing a given disease I will examine the UK context but this is only as | A Lancaster – Cardiff collaboration Genes, drugs and food Ruth Chadwick Director, CESAGen Lancaster University Outline New technologies have led to revisiting of the individual-collective relation in public health and to questions of their impact on health inequalities They have the potential to reduce or increase health inequalities Issues Opportunity costs Access and benefit-sharing Choice? The upholding of ‘choice’ coincides with new forms of stratification No consistency in argument Examples: nutrigenetics, obesity and functional foods Not in itself surprising that there is no consistency in argument but it is important to clarify where the inconsistencies arise Two White Papers (UK): two strategies we will learn more about the genetic features of common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and the way external factors such as diet and smoking interact with our genes to increase the likelihood of developing a given disease I will examine the UK context but this is only as an example. DH continued There will then be the option to test people for a predisposition to disease, or a higher than normal risk. Treatment, lifestyle advice and monitoring aimed at disease prevention could then be tailored appropriately to suit each individual Our Inheritance, Our Future Now why would we want to know about how smoking interacts with genetic factors unless there was some importance for individual decisions to smoke or not? The other White Paper, however, takes the blanket ban approach. Choosing Health (2004) The White Paper sets out a strategy for action based on the principles of informed choice, personalised services and collaboration between Government, the NHS, industry and wider society. Choosing Health identifies how people can be empowered to make healthy choices. It sets out how health can be supported and improved in key environments such as retail outlets, local communities and the workplace. Public engagement 2003 – traces of deficit model 2004 – shaped
