Final Brewery talk challenges obesity 'crisis'

Sep 18, 2006

Is talk of the obesity epidemic justified or it is merely a social idea? Are there risks in talking up the 'crisis' or 'epidemic'?

Professor Jan Wright from the University of Wollongong's Faculty of Education will provide her view when she presents the final Uni in the Brewery for the year on Wednesday 20 September.

Titled "The Obesity Epidemic: a moral panic?", Professor Wright will provide observations and results of her research on this important health issue.

"Although the obesity epidemic is currently big news, few people have stopped to think about what this actually means," said Professor Wright.

"For example, the scientific community has announced that the 'obesity epidemic' is both a 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. As a result, experts across the spectrum are now advocating profound changes to the ways we live."

Professor Jan Wright, author with Dr Michael Gard of the book The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Ideology and Morality, will argue that the 'obesity epidemic' is an ideology. Sociological and feminist work on health and the body will be used to help understand why the 'obesity epidemic' has come to such prominence as a health issue in the face of considerable scientific uncertainty.

In addition, she will examine the effects of 'obesity epidemic' thinking, what might be the unintended consequences of a 'war on obesity', particularly for children, young people, women and those who find themselves classified as overweight or obese.

Michelle Fraser, a therapist and social worker with many years of experience working with young people, will also speak about the consequences of current messages about fat and the healthy body.

Uni in the Brewery is a series of public lectures co-ordinated by the University of Wollongong's Research and Innovation Division (RAID) and aim to give the public the opportunity to learn about the various research projects conducted at UOW. The public is encouraged to attend the entertaining series of presentations by leading UOW researchers, and provide feedback and discussion.

When: Wednesday 20th September 2006. 5.30 - 6.30pm

Where: Five Islands Brewery, Eastern end of the WIN Entertainment Centre

Cost: FREE

For further information: Contact Professor Jan Wright on (02) 4221 3664.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128