When it comes to obesity, it seems that everyone has an opinion.

Some advocate that individuals should ‘take responsibility’ for their own behavioural choices, while others point to the government and policymakers to ‘change the environment’ we live in so that healthy choices are easier.

If we look at the prevalence of obesity around the world, it is apparent that no intervention, program or policy has made much of a dent. Could it be that both sides of the argument are wrong?

For many decades, researchers have been fascinated by the link between how people behave and the pressures from society.