Rethinking Obesity Prevention. A Critical Realism Lens on Public Health Interventions How can we truly know whether obesity prevention programmes work? This book tackles that urgent question through the lens of realistic evaluation, which is rooted in the powerful philosophy of critical realism. Through case studies from Scotland, Germany and England, it reveals how the interaction of context, mechanisms and outcomes determines the success—or failure—of public health interventions. With a clear conceptual framework and in-depth analysis, this study offers practical insights for public health professionals, policymakers and social scientists alike. A guide to the deeper dynamics of sustainable obesity prevention, it uncovers what really makes such interventions effective in the real world.