Ravi Gurumurthy
@raviguru.bsky.social
CEO, Nesta and Behavioural Insights Team. Governor, Health Foundation.
What I do: applied research, venture building, policy. Particularly in net zero, education and health.
What I do: applied research, venture building, policy. Particularly in net zero, education and health.
on.ft.com/3Z0E2RT The quiet power of friendship
The quiet power of friendship
Mixing with people of different backgrounds is an ingredient for success
on.ft.com
May 27, 2025 at 7:52 AM
on.ft.com/3Z0E2RT The quiet power of friendship
Will have to venture to brick lane. I'm in south west london. Globalisation never made it here.
April 7, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Will have to venture to brick lane. I'm in south west london. Globalisation never made it here.
4. Most strategies contain lofty objectives and then a list of initiatives - rather than an attempt to quantify the impact of policies on the outcome. While there are obvious uncertainties, it is useful to replace adjectives with numbers that give a sense of the dose-response relationship.
November 2, 2024 at 10:00 PM
4. Most strategies contain lofty objectives and then a list of initiatives - rather than an attempt to quantify the impact of policies on the outcome. While there are obvious uncertainties, it is useful to replace adjectives with numbers that give a sense of the dose-response relationship.
3. Many measures that people typically call for are not effective, and we should stop focusing on things that may be directionally good gestures - especially when they burn political or financial capital.
November 2, 2024 at 10:00 PM
3. Many measures that people typically call for are not effective, and we should stop focusing on things that may be directionally good gestures - especially when they burn political or financial capital.
2. It is feasible and cost-effective to adopt radical action on obesity so halving obesity as a goal should be established in 10 yr health plan, with a body - akin to Climate Change Committee set up to monitor progress and recommend any policy changes.
November 2, 2024 at 9:59 PM
2. It is feasible and cost-effective to adopt radical action on obesity so halving obesity as a goal should be established in 10 yr health plan, with a body - akin to Climate Change Committee set up to monitor progress and recommend any policy changes.
Some (no pun intended) takeaways:
1. We tend to think that obesity is intractable - only small progress is possible, over long term and at great political cost. This work shows that we can halve obesity. Only question is what balance between prevention vs treatment, and tax vs reg vs spending.
1. We tend to think that obesity is intractable - only small progress is possible, over long term and at great political cost. This work shows that we can halve obesity. Only question is what balance between prevention vs treatment, and tax vs reg vs spending.
November 2, 2024 at 9:59 PM
Some (no pun intended) takeaways:
1. We tend to think that obesity is intractable - only small progress is possible, over long term and at great political cost. This work shows that we can halve obesity. Only question is what balance between prevention vs treatment, and tax vs reg vs spending.
1. We tend to think that obesity is intractable - only small progress is possible, over long term and at great political cost. This work shows that we can halve obesity. Only question is what balance between prevention vs treatment, and tax vs reg vs spending.
4. Another pathway that achieved a halving of obesity includes prevention and treatment, but leans heavily on regulatory measures such as mandatory targets for retailers. This package will not increase the cost of food and therefore may be politically acceptable.
November 2, 2024 at 9:56 PM
4. Another pathway that achieved a halving of obesity includes prevention and treatment, but leans heavily on regulatory measures such as mandatory targets for retailers. This package will not increase the cost of food and therefore may be politically acceptable.
3. A tax, regulation and treatment package which leans heavily on measures like the sugar and salt tax as proposed in the National Food Strategy (which on its own raises £3.2 bn per year), and cuts obesity by half.
November 2, 2024 at 9:54 PM
3. A tax, regulation and treatment package which leans heavily on measures like the sugar and salt tax as proposed in the National Food Strategy (which on its own raises £3.2 bn per year), and cuts obesity by half.
2. A GLP1 focused pathway where you give 3 million new people each year with a BMI of over 30 a 2 year course of GLP drugs. Over 5 years this would cost £42 billion (or 8.5bn per year), and generate benefits of £26bn per year. 1/3rd benefits flow to state (NHS, productivity). 2/3rds to individual.
November 2, 2024 at 9:54 PM
2. A GLP1 focused pathway where you give 3 million new people each year with a BMI of over 30 a 2 year course of GLP drugs. Over 5 years this would cost £42 billion (or 8.5bn per year), and generate benefits of £26bn per year. 1/3rd benefits flow to state (NHS, productivity). 2/3rds to individual.
We’ve also selected 4 packages that illustrate different approaches to halving obesity. Here’s a summary of them:
1. The pathway that clearly doesn’t reach the target is focused on informing and educating citizens on nutrition and exercise. 11 policies reduce obesity by 10%.
1. The pathway that clearly doesn’t reach the target is focused on informing and educating citizens on nutrition and exercise. 11 policies reduce obesity by 10%.
November 2, 2024 at 9:52 PM
We’ve also selected 4 packages that illustrate different approaches to halving obesity. Here’s a summary of them:
1. The pathway that clearly doesn’t reach the target is focused on informing and educating citizens on nutrition and exercise. 11 policies reduce obesity by 10%.
1. The pathway that clearly doesn’t reach the target is focused on informing and educating citizens on nutrition and exercise. 11 policies reduce obesity by 10%.