Understanding Turkey’s Obesity Challenge: Economic Strains and Food Safety Concerns Impacting Public Health

In April, Turkey’s Ministry of Health kicked off a campaign called “Learn Your Ideal Weight, Live Healthy.” The goal? To tackle the growing problem of obesity in the country. Since its launch, more than three million people have joined. However, while it seems like a great initiative, the reality is more complicated.

A closer look reveals that many participants struggle with being overweight due to deep-rooted economic issues. Turkey currently faces the highest food inflation in the OECD, making it tough for families to access nutritious foods. This economic strain often leads people to rely on cheaper, less healthy options.

Recent reports show that food deprivation, especially among children, is alarming. Turkey ranks poorly in child poverty, with nearly half of its youth not having access to daily fruits and vegetables. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, 49.5% of children don’t eat fruit every day, and 67% miss out on vegetables. In 2024, about 39.5% of children are at risk of poverty—up from 34.4% just a year ago.

A recent report by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) highlighted that a family of four needs approximately TL 25,092 ($633) per month to avoid hunger, while the poverty line hovers around TL 81,000 ($2,043). With the minimum wage at TL 22,104 ($558), many families grapple with choosing between healthy food and basic survival.

Hacer Foggo, who leads the Deep Poverty Network, shared insights in an interview highlighting that deep poverty severely limits access to essential needs, forcing families to buy cheap, processed foods. She noted that both obesity and malnutrition stem from inadequate nutrition.

The impact of food insecurity extends into schools. While over a million students benefit from free lunch programs, it is just a drop in the bucket compared to the 18 million students at risk of hunger across Turkey. Research shows that many students can’t afford meals at school, with 47.3% unable to buy anything from the cafeteria.

Food safety is another major issue. In 2024, Turkey ranked first in pesticide alerts in the EU, raising concerns about the safety of its produce. A Greenpeace study revealed that 61% of samples tested contained multiple pesticides, and a significant percentage tested positive for harmful chemicals like PFAS. These chemicals pose severe long-term health risks.

What’s more, the number of farmers practicing environmentally safe farming is declining. From over 72,000 in 2017, only about 9,570 were engaged in good agricultural practices by 2022, mainly due to increasing costs and inadequate support.

While the “Learn Your Ideal Weight, Live Healthy” campaign is a step in the right direction, it overlooks the crucial socio-economic issues at play. Affordability and food quality must be prioritized to genuinely tackle obesity in Turkey. Without addressing these underlying challenges, the campaign’s effectiveness will remain limited.

For Turkey to genuinely combat obesity, a well-rounded approach focused on economic disparities and food safety is essential. The nation needs to ensure that all citizens have access to affordable, healthy food and a safe environment to thrive.



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