1. Resisting the “war on obesity” Technologies of the Gendered Body (Week 8)

2. Outline What is the “war on obesity”? Resisting the “war on obesity”: Advertising Feminism Critical obesity studies Fat activism

3. What is the “war on obesity”?

4. Advertising junk food Burger King – “I am a man” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLHlvb8skQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLHlvb8skQ

5. Feminism The body as a site of patriarchal oppression Compulsory heterosexuality The evaluation of women by appearance Dieting as a form of physical and emotional harm Dieting as a time-consuming distraction Dieting as a form of control

6. Critical obesity studies Gard and Wright 2005: 136 “…when the prevailing conditions are described as an “epidemic”, hyperbole no longer looks like hyperbole, ideology can look like common sense and moralising can even look like science”.

7. Critical obesity studies Questioning weight gain stats (Campos et al, 2006: 55) “…what we have seen in the US in a relatively modest rightward skewing of average weight on the distribution curve, with people of lower weights gaining little or no weight, and the majority of people weighing 3-5kg more than they did a generation ago. The average American’s weight gain can be explained by 10 extra calories a day, or the equivalent of a Big Mac once every 2 months. […] This is hardly the orgy of fast food binging and inactivity widely thought to be to blame for the supposed fat explosion.”

8. Critical obesity studies Questioning the health crisis: BMI is very weak predictor of mortality (especially in “overweight” category (BMI 25-29.9); closer correlation in high 30’s) Extremes of thinness are overlooked Little account taken of confounding factors – fitness / exercise / weight cycling / economic status etc Being overweight can have a protective effect

9. Critical obesity studies Questioning the practicality / ethics of advocating weight loss: Most diets end in regain (plus more) (see Mann et al) Weight cycling is very unhealthy Many weight loss interventions have serious side-effects and complications Many health problems (e.g. heart disease / diabetes) can be treated successfully without weight loss

10. Critical obesity studies “Obesity epidemic” as a moral panic: “Gluttony or sloth” (House of Commons Health Select Committee, 2004) Obesity as a “moral” failure to care for the self Alarmist language (time bombs)

13. “Obesity is a cancer “time bomb” (BBC online, 21.5.07)

14. Critical obesity studies “Obesity epidemic” as a moral panic: “Gluttony or sloth” (House of Commons Health Select Committee, 2004) Obesity as a “moral” failure to care for the self Alarmist language (time bombs) Intense media coverage Underlying rhetoric around gender / race / class (see Herndon 2005)

16. Jamie Oliver and “Burger Mum” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsOl64 sQjd4

17. Fat activism

18. Fat Activism Re-claiming the fat body; “Flabulous” (Marilyn Wann) Resisting dieting as harmful Resisting anti-fat discrimination Campaigning for better health care Gender – encouraging women to take up space National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance; International Size Acceptance Association BBW events; see also, Monaghan (Big Handsome Men, Bears…)

19. Jennifer Portnick

23. Additional readings Mann, T, Tomiyama, J, Westling, E, Lew, A, Samuels, B and Chatman, J (2007) “Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments” American Psychologist 62 (3): 220- 233