Conference focus on ‘obesity epidemic’ beat up

Jan 24, 2007

Participants at a conference to be held at the University of Wollongong from 25-27 January will focus on what they believe is a beat up about Australia’s ‘obesity epidemic’.

The international researchers will argue that the research on obesity and its health consequences is much more uncertain than the population is led to believe.

One of the main conference organisers, Professor Jan Wright of UOW’s Faculty of Education, said the conference would examine how:

• The messages or ideas conveyed about fatness are harmful to the health of children and young people

• These ideas are produced with very little reflection on their consequences in and by schools, media, government policy and strategies

• Millions of dollars are misdirected on the assumption that there is an obesity epidemic and that awareness of more appropriate eating and physical activity choices by individuals is the way to combat the so-called ‘obesity epidemic’

• These policies and strategies ignore the structural relationships between patterns of obesity and ill health -- for example in the area of income inequalities

The keynote speaker at the conference will be Michael Gard who is the author of “The Obesity Epidemic: Science Ideology and Morality” which has been a strong seller internationally. Other participants include Emma Rich from the UK, Genevieve Rail (Canada) and Lisette Burrows and Annemarie Jutel (New Zealand).

MEDIA PLEASE NOTE

Conference venue: The first day of the conference will be a roundtable with the main speakers. This will be held from 10am to 4pm on 25 January in Room 345 of the McKinnon Building (Bldg 67). The main conference is being held in Building 67 (Room 303) and the best photo/filming opportunity would be lunchtime on 25 January between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

For further information contact Professor Jan Wright on (02) 4221 3664 (w); (02) 4267 3224 (h); or 0419 673228 (m).

The Media Unit (email bgoldie@uow.edu.au) or Professor Wright can provide abstracts of presentations to be given at the conference

For more information, contact:

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