New book asks if obesity 'crisis' is justified

Jun 21 2005

Although increasing obesity levels are currently extremely topical, very few people have stopped to think carefully about what this trend means.

The scientific community has announced that the ‘obesity epidemic’ is both the natural consequence of modern Western lifestyles as well as an urgent and unprecedented global health crisis for which nothing short of an all-out ‘war on obesity’ will do.

But is talk of an obesity 'crisis' justified?

Professor Jan Wright, from the University of Wollongong’s Faculty of Education and Dr Michael Gard from Charles Sturt University, respond to this question in their book Obesity Epidemic: Science, Ideology and Morality, which will be launched at the UniCentre Bookshop, University of Wollongong, tomorrow, Wednesday 22 June.

The book examines whether the ‘obesity crisis’ is the product of measured scientific reasoning or age-old 'habits of mind' and ponders the potential risks associated with talking about obesity as a ‘crisis’ or ‘epidemic’.

The obesity epidemic argues that the current state of scientific thinking is a complex mix of science, morality and ideological assumptions about people and their lives.

Professor Wright and Dr Gard question the scientific legitimacy of accepted thought about the causes of obesity, arguing that ideological bias and debatable moral assumptions have has significant effect on research. They also examine the ‘obesity epidemic’ from a variety of angles, exploring the science of obesity and the construction of it in the popular media.

The book has been described as a controversial text about a critical theme in health and exercise studies and essential reading for anyone interested in health and obesity issues including teachers, scientists, health workers, doctors and policymakers.

Book launch date and time: Wednesday 22 June at 4.30pm

Where: UniCentre Bookshop Bldg 11, University of Wollongong