Marmot's Rational Choice Theory

Whilst recognizing that individual choices are important in determining health outcomes and risk of obesity, Marmot argues that in reality, personal behaviours and individual choices are commonly influenced by conditions in which people live and work and that socioeconomic position means that those, such that those who have more advantage have the freedom and opportunity to make healthier ‘choices’ (Marmot…). He argues that the rational choice theory is not particularly helpful in this regard as it still leaves the question unanswered why are people occupying lower positions in the social structure more often ‘choosing’ to be obese than those more advantaged?

The Report of the Working Group of Inequalities in Health (1980, cited in Macintyre