Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Obesity discourse'

This thesis stems from a large, international research project funded in the UK by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (RES-000-22-2003) and led by Dr. Emma Rich and Professor John Evans at Loughborough University between 2007 and 2009. The study investigated how new health imperatives and associated curriculum initiatives were operationalized within and across eight schools located in a county in the Midlands region of England. The schools were chosen to reflect a variety of socio-cultural settings in the UK, and specifically those that were typical of the Midlands county in which the study took place. The research findings formed part of a three-way international collaboration with parallel studies conducted in Australia (led by Professor Jan Wright) and New Zealand (led by Associate Professor Lisette Burrows) and revealed, among other significant findings, that whilst some young people are deeply troubled by obesity discourse, others are emboldened by it. In pursuit of this key finding, this PhD study departs from the aforementioned project through detailed case study exploration of the emplacement , enactment and embodiment of health policy in three of the eight UK schools from the ESRC-funded study, focusing specifically on the class and cultural mediations of health imperatives in each setting and the various ways these can affect a young person s developing sense of self (particularly the relationships they develop with their own weight/size). Young people are considered to be body subjects (Blackman, 2012) whose embodiments are assembled, performed and enacted in situ. I therefore speak of troubled , insouciant and emboldened bodies as categories which reflect the fundamentally agentic, contingent, relational and fluid nature of young people s embodiment in time, place and space. Hence, whilst highlighting the deleterious and indeed ubiquitous effects of some health education programmes on some young people s relationships with their weight/size, key findings presented in this thesis offer nuance and complexity to the notion of the neoliberal body (Heywood, 2007; Rizvi and Lingard, 2010; Rose, 1999) through exploration of the ways in which contemporary health imperatives also have potential to privilege and empower some young people. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for policy makers, educators and researchers whose work concerns young people s health and well-being.

This thesis offers an exploration of the discourse of weight control and examines how its concepts and goals are incorporated into the way people perceive and understand the self and others. The central focus is an analysis of the nexus between weight control and concerns surrounding ‘excess’ weight. The analysis reveals the way discourses on the balanced body, the normalised body, the healthy body, the natural body and the transformative body generate varying understandings of the normal, weight-controlled body and overweight body and in turn, how they give rise to different weight watching practices. It shows how the different ways of viewing the body also engender various visualisations of the subjects of weight control. It is argued the discourse of weight control is not put into effect by subjugation but through the generation of a personal desire to be slender and weight-controlled. As such, the central inquiry of the thesis also gives consideration to the impacts which discourses of weight control might have upon individuals in the constitution of self and identity. A sub-theme of the analysis is a consideration of the possibilities people have to engage with the discourse of weight control, in particular those who are considered overweight. Particular attention is paid throughout to the relationship between women and weight control. The findings are predominantly based upon content analysis of a broad range of primary texts including medico-scientific texts, historical material, policy and public health documents, and popular written and audiovisual media. The research is also informed to a less extent by participant observation at two weight loss centres and by semi-structured in-depth interviews with 13 women considered ‘overweight’ by current standards.

This thesis examines the effects of anti-obesity discourses on parenting practices. While academics have paid attention to the political dimensions of anti-obesity policy and related discourses (for example Colls and Evans, 2009, Evans, 2006, 2010, McPhail, 2009, Rawlins, 2009), and others have considered the experiences of feeding and caring for families (for example Curtis and Fisher, 2007, DeVault, 1991 Warin et al, 2008, Valentine, 1999), the way in which anti-obesity policies become enrolled in, and possibly contested through, parenting practices remains largely uncovered. In response to this, the thesis explores the ways in which these anti-obesity policies and discourses are brought into family life, lived, experienced, and made meaningful, contributing to critical obesity geographies and broader literature on bodies, parenting, care, and consumption. The thesis draws on research interviews and focus groups with parents, in which accounts of parenting practices and understandings around body size were explored in light of contemporary UK anti-obesity discourse. Using this research to explore the everyday enaction of parenting knowledges around body size, these parenting enactions are investigated alongside the governance of body size and parenting, developing an account of the ways in which we can see the aims of the state enacted in everyday practices of care (Dyck et al, 2007). By paying attention to everyday practices, this thesis argues that anti-obesity discourse emerges not only through top-down practices of governance, but through mundane and personal relationships of care and engagement with bodies, food, and fat. However, caring practices are demonstrated as existing in multiplicity and the excesses of everyday life in relation to parenting and body size are given space in the thesis to challenge narrow accounts of what it means to be a ‘good’ parent or have a ‘good’ body size; it is argued that we need to take seriously the situated lay knowledges that are developed through everyday practices of care. The thesis contends that such notions of ‘good’ parenting, bodies, and size are enacted through anti-obesity discourse as a particular classed discourse of parenting knowledge and body size, which furthermore, reinforce gendered versions of bodies, parenting, and everyday life.

As a cornerstone of American identity, the American Dream serves as a hegemonic ideology rooted in myth. This myth centers on an ardent belief in equity despite the existence of systemic racial and economic exclusions, which includes inconsistent access to healthy food resulting in the hunger-obesity paradox. Because fast food plays a leading role in generating this paradox where an individual can be both hungry and obese, this thesis analyzes the 2015 Kentucky Fried Chicken advertising campaign to identify how the campaign perpetuates Dream discourse and understand how that discourse contributes to the hunger-obesity paradox. With the Colonel anchored at the heart of this campaign, the analysis found that he embodies the Dream and acts as a megaphone for Dream discourse. And ultimately, because Dream discourse overlooks and even admonishes low-income people and people of color, the people who most often face hunger and obesity, it contributes to the paradox.

Health curriculum traditionally (re)produces obesity discourse, a fusion of biomedical and moral perspectives of weight and fat. This weight-centered approach to bodies may perpetuate weight stigmatization, indirectly supports a culture of thinness, and contradicts other health messages concerning bodies. A Health At Every Size® (HAES®) approach is an alternative, multidimensional health-centered approach that can reconcile the incongruent messages in obesity and eating disorder discourses and may reduce weight stigmatization. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a college personal health curriculum module to promote healthy bodies of all sizes. Discourse positions of teaching assistants were explored through interviews and provided an understanding of their values and teaching methods regarding weight and health. A HAES®-based curriculum module was developed for college personal health classes at a Midwestern university. Quasi-experimental design was used to compare attitudes toward HAES® principles among students who received the alternative, HAES®-based curriculum module versus those receiving a traditional weight management curriculum. Pre- and posttest attitudes of students and teaching assistants were assessed using the Health and Weight Attitudes Scale developed for this study. Teaching assistants provided evaluation of the HAES® module in a focus group. While teaching assistants' discourse positions varied, most used obesity discourse to talk and teach about bodies and weight. Alternative discourses were most common when teaching assistants discussed eating disorders or body image. Students' attitudes at pre-test were slightly positive and did not differ significantly between comparison and intervention groups. Intervention group students' attitudes were significantly more positive than comparison group students' attitudes at posttest. Intervention group teaching assistants reported primarily positive experiences with the module. Teaching assistants rely primarily on obesity discourse to teach about weight and bodies but are receptive and positive when offered an alternative method. A HAES® curriculum module can increase positive attitudes of students and teaching assistants toward promotion of size acceptance and multidimensional health for people of all sizes.

This dissertation examines body image ideology within the larger context of adolescent social networks and the physical environment of a high school, specifically focusing on factors that may be contributing to the current overweight/obesity epidemic among youth. I explore the ways in which adolescents construct gendered identities through talk about body image as well as adolescent practices and discourses regarding exercise and food consumption, including how their perceptions of what it means to be athletic and healthy intersect with their perceptions about body image ideals and norms. I further discuss ways in which adolescents construct moral identities through 'othering' discourses about overweight and obese people, including teasing practices. A primary goal of this ethnographic research project is to integrate the study of body image, food consumption, exercise, and teasing practices among youth in order to contribute a contextualized understanding of how youth perceive and enact these behaviors in their daily lives.

Implicit theories are frameworks that allow an individual to conceptualize the world (Levy, Chiu, & Hong, 2006; Plaks, Levy, & Dweck, 2009). Incremental implicit theories assert humans as dynamic entities, capable of change, whereas entity implicit theories assert that humans are rigid, static, and incapable of change (Dweck, 1999). The present study examined entity and incremental themes in parent child discourse about weight related health decisions. Incremental themes are expected to be related to better pediatric health outcomes (BMI, physical activity, diet, and body image). A moderation model is proposed whereby links between parent child discourse and pediatric health outcomes, specifically body image, will be stronger for boys than girls. Moderation by sex was expected because parents may communicate differently to their children as a function of sex. Cultural ideals have much more stringent evaluations of women than men do and this may be reflected in communications involving parents and children. There were no significant mean-level differences in body image scores and parents' use of entity and incremental themes according to child sex. Additionally, parents use of entity and incremental themes did not predict any of the children's health-related outcomes. These results may indicate that child sex may not be the best predictor of parents' communications concerning children's weight-related decisions.
Master of Science

In light of the increasing prevalence of obesity in the UK, health professionals working within general practice are urged to initiate discussion about weight with overweight and obese patients. Despite such appeals, evidence suggests that only a minority of health professionals routinely talk to patients about weight loss. To understand more about the barriers to raising the topic of weight in general practice, three empirical studies guided by qualitative research design were carried out. The first two studies draw on psychological theory to identify barriers to raising the topic of weight. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 GPs and 17 primary care nurses. The third study conducted with 20 GPs is underpinned by discourse analysis and uses trigger film interviews to capture and critically analyse the discursive production of, and macro-discourses shaping, barriers. In study 1 and 2, three main themes summarise barriers identified from GP and primary care nurse perspectives: limited understanding about obesity care, concern about negative consequences and limited time to raise a sensitive topic. In study 3, four discursive frameworks were identified as underpinning constructions about the barriers to broaching discussion about obesity: medical-reductionist, medical-holistic, moral and ethical. Findings extend understanding about the ways in which obesity is constructed as both a medical and non-medical issue. The findings have implications for health professional education, policy and research including the need to expose and challenge dominant understandings of obesity as a behavioural problem, to address barriers operating at the socio-cultural as well as the individual-level, and to enhance understanding about the socially embedded and pernicious effects of obesity stigma in the consultation and beyond.

Using feminist poststructuralist and postcolonial lenses, I explore how young Lebanese-Canadian women construct health, obesity, and the body within the context of the dominant obesity discourse, which over-emphasizes supposed links between inactivity, nutrition, obesity, and health. Participant-centered conversations were held with 20 young Lebanese-Canadian women between the ages of 18 and 25. The conversational texts were analyzed according to two consecutive methods: a thematic analysis which allowed us to focus on what the participants had to say about health, obesity, and the body followed by a poststructuralist discourse analysis which helped us to decipher how the participants spoke about these topics. The findings of this study attest that the young women construct health, obesity, and the body as matters of individual responsibility. They speak about achieving health and avoiding overweight/obesity through disciplinary practices such as rigorous physical activity and proper dietary restrictions. The participants also construct health in close linkage with the physical appearance of the body; moreover, they conflate the “healthy” and “ideal” female body, which they represent as thin. As such, the young women reject “fat” and portray obesity as a disease, a matter of lack of will, and an “abnormal” physical appearance. Finally, the young Lebanese-Canadian women report their involvement in various practices such as restriction of the quality and quantity of their nutritional intake, rare and non-organized forms of physical activity, and problematic practices such as the use of detoxes, dieting pills, and compulsive exercise, all in the name of health. Throughout this study, I highlight the participants’ multiple and shifting subjectivities: While the young Lebanese-Canadian women most often construct themselves as free neoliberal subjects re-citing elements of dominant neoliberal discourses (of self-authorship, self-responsibility for health, traditional femininity, and obesity), they at times construct themselves as “poststructuralist” subjects showing awareness of, and “micro-resistance” to such discourses. The impacts of the Lebanese and Lebanese-Canadian cultures on the participants’ constructions of health, obesity, and the body comprise an important part of this thesis. The participants accentuate the major importance of beauty and physical appearance—particularly not being fat—in the Lebanese and Lebanese-Canadian cultures. However, they also attempt to distance themselves from “Lebanese” ways of thinking about health, obesity, and the body, and in doing so they replicate homogeneous representations of Lebanese, Lebanese-Canadian, and Canadian women. I offer practical suggestions to inform health and obesity interventions that target Lebanese-Canadian women and women from ethnic minorities and I discuss future research possibilities that may stem from the present thesis.

This project analyzed First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign for how it constructs obesity and health. Let’s Move! is a national internet-based campaign to end childhood obesity. The literature on Let’s Move! is limited and focuses on the privatization and corporatization of children’s physical education in public schools. Taking an intersectional approach to critical fat studies, I use critical discourse analysis to investigate how the language used in the Let’s Move! campaign (re)enforces and (re)signifies cultural notions of fat as a social problem – specifically that fat bodies are diseased, unproductive, and a financial burden. I maintain that the Let’s Move! campaign is a symptomatic text that reveals a moral panic over the so-called childhood obesity epidemic by insisting that childhood obesity is a threat to national economy and security. I contend that Let’s Move! constructs good citizens as informed consumers, and the biopedagogies recommended by Let’s Move! promote White middle-class norms as the proper way to live while ignoring structural inequalities. Furthermore, I posit the campaign employs neoliberal discourses to frame mothers as responsible for their obese children’s weight and encourages women to conform to the cultural notion of the “good mother.” Overall, I argue the Let’s Move! campaign produces classed, raced, gendered, and able-bodied ideals of citizenship that function to further marginalize poor and minority groups.

Orientador: Carlos Roberto Silveira Corrêa
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
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Resumo: Constata-se que, nas últimas décadas, o peso médio da população, independentemente do gênero, idade, ou extrato social, tanto nos países desenvolvidos como nos que estão em desenvolvimento, vem aumentando progressivamente. A obesidade é considerada doença multifatorial pela OMS e tem um caráter epidêmico, portanto um problema de saúde pública. Muitos estudiosos vêm pesquisando o assunto na esperança de identificar formas eficazes de tratamento duradouro para a perda de peso. As abordagens mais utilizadas para o tratamento da obesidade são, entre outras, as prescrições de dieta, mudanças no estilo de vida, atividades físicas, terapia com fármacos ou psicológica. Estas intervenções, no entanto, não têm diminuído a curva de crescimento do número de obesos e das doenças desencadeadas pela obesidade, tornando-se um desafio para a saúde pública encontrar respostas para a dificuldade do obeso em aderir à dieta, perder peso e manter esta perda. De acordo com os órgãos de saúde pública, a obesidade é particularmente importante entre crianças e adolescentes porque eles têm grande chance de serem obesos na vida adulta. Além disso, o adolescente está construindo a sua auto-imagem e o corpo obeso pode ser fonte de uma inadequação social, com todo o sofrimento que advém desta percepção. Para compreender as dificuldades de adesão ao tratamento proposto pelo conhecimento biomédico, este trabalho analisou a discursividade de meninas adolescentes com sobrepeso ou obesas, alunas de uma ONG situada em um bairro da zona norte da cidade de Campinas. Foram selecionadas 10 adolescentes interessadas em participar de um Grupo Focal que abordou o tema da obesidade e as formas de intervenção para a perda de peso propostas pelo modelo biomédico. Após a transcrição deste encontro, o material foi analisado de acordo com a Análise do Discurso (AD), teoria francesa de Michel Pêcheux e Eni Orlandi no Brasil. Entendemos que as condições históricas constroem práticas discursivas por meio das quais o obeso se significa no mundo e que conhecê-las ajudará a compreender a adolescente diante da dificuldade em perder peso. Como resultado, compreendemos que há por parte do discurso médico, uma sobredeterminação do corpo ao sujeito e a adolescente é determinada pela obesidade. No entanto, a jovem se recusa a ser significada nesta posição de obesa e doente, resistindo a este discurso e a esta determinação
Abstract: It is shown that on the last decades, the average weight of the population, apart from genre, age or social extract, in both developed countries and countries that are still developing, are progressively increasing. Obesity is considered a multi-factorial disease by WHO and has a epidemiological character, therefore, a public health problem. Many studies are researching the subject on the hope of identifying effective ways of a durable treatment for weight loss. The approaches more used obesity treatments are within others, diet prescriptions, changes on the life style, physical activities drug or psychological therapies. These interventions, however, have not decreased curve of growing obesity cases and of the diseases caused by obesity, becoming a challenge for public health finding answers for the difficulty of the obese to adhere a certain diet, losing weight and keeping this loss. According to the public health agencies, obesity is particularly important among children and teenagers because they have great chances of being obsess on their adult life. In addition to that, the adolescent is building a self image and the obese body can be a source of a social inadequacy, with all the suffering that comes from this perception. In order to comprehend the adhesion difficulties to the suggested treatment by the biomedical knowledge, this work has analyzed the discourse of teen girls that are overweight or obese, girls of an NGO situated in a northern neighborhood on the city of Campinas. There were selected 10 adolescents interested in participating of a Focal Group that approached the obesity theme and the ways of intervention for the weight loss suggested by the biomedical model. After the transcription of this meeting, the material has analyzed to the technique of Discourse Analysis (AD), French theory of Michel Pêcheux and Eni Orlandi in Brazil. We understand that the historical conditions build up discourse practices through which the obese gives a meaning to herself on the world and that getting to know these practices will help to comprehend the adolescent facing the difficulties of losing weight. As a result, we comprehend that there is by the medical discourse an over determination of the body to the subject and to the adolescent determined by the obesity. However the teenager refuses being signified on this position of obese and sick, resisting to this discourse and to his determination
Mestrado
Epidemiologia
Mestre em Saude Coletiva

A busca pela perfeição, pelo belo, pelo correto, pelo equilíbrio são objetos de desejo há muito perseguidos. Nossa pretensão foi entender como são produzidos os sentidos de obesidade pelas relações discursivas da ciência, da mídia e das conversas do cotidiano. Acreditamos que há uma relevância do debate da dinâmica dos conceitos, entendendo-os como formas simbólicas e seus múltiplos significados históricos. Há uma polissemia no sentido de obesidade e isto cria dispositivos de poder, disciplina e controle que se encarregam de examinar, marcar, corrigir e, eventualmente, punir o sujeito com essa característica, estabelecendo uma definição hegemônica de normalidade para classificação positiva e negativa dos comportamentos. Esse processo cria marcas nas subjetividades uma vez que o sujeito que possui alguma característica considerada anormal deva ser corrigido. Analisamos as práticas de significação que engendram diferentes formas de narração da obesidade. O aporte dos Estudos Culturais contribuiu para enxergarmos o surgimento de uma nova categoria social e uma nova identidade cultural: os obesos. Consideramos que tal grupo é classificado como desviante na dinâmica hegemônica cultural, na qual os discursos científicos e culturais balizam a sua representação social. Investigamos a construção discursiva de obesidade, principalmente, inferindo nas questões e falas recorrentes, argumentos, no dito e não dito, no repetitivo. Afirmamos que existe um discurso disciplinador do corpo na sociedade atual e que várias estratégias são elaboradas para responsabilizar as pessoas sobre seus corpos. Realizamos um estudo em três níveis: primeiro, buscamos entender o discurso científico de obesidade, analisando artigos de revisão em duas bases de publicações científicas, o Scielo BR e o Portal da Capes; em seguida, investigamos o programa televisivo Bem Estar, da Rede Globo; por último, tentamos compreender como são produzidos os discursos no cotidiano, realizando um diário de campo e registrando as conversas espontâneas que presenciamos ao acaso no metro, em restaurantes, na praia e outros locais públicos e privados. Da ciência, podemos inferir que os discursos são construídos a partir de um modelo biomédico cartesiano e determinista construído no século XVIII que acompanha um projeto de formação de crenças e verdades para que a ciência ocupe um papel importante nos discursos de outras áreas como a comunicação, o judiciário e as políticas públicas. A mídia se utiliza dos discursos competentes do modelo biomédico para criar uma representação social polarizada de tipos ideais de obesos: aquele que sofre todas as consequências negativas por ser gordo e aquele que mudou a vida para melhor depois que emagreceu. As conversas do cotidiano contribuíram para entendermos as negociações discursivas existentes na sociedade. Mesmo com as relações de poder e a hegemonia cultural de um grupo, os sujeitos são complexos e seus discursos também refletem tais características: as falas mostram repetições de outros discursos, evidenciam as relações com a individualização da responsabilidade com o corpo, questões morais, preconceito e idealização da beleza, mas também mostram resistências aos discursos hegemônicos, principalmente ao externar que a vida é plástica e que os sujeitos obesos podem construir outros tipos de relações com seu corpo e criar sua própria normalidade.
The search for perfection, beauty, correct and balance are objects of desire pursued for a long time. Our intention was to understand how the senses of obesity by discursive relations of science, media and everyday conversations are produced. We believe that there is some relevance in the discussion of dynamic of the concepts, understanding them as symbolic forms and their multiple historical meanings. There is a polysemy towards obesity and this creates power, discipline and control devices which are responsible to examine, mark, fix and eventually punish the subject with this characteristic, establishing a hegemonic definition of normality for a positive and negative classification of behaviors. This process creates marks on the subjectivity once the subject that has an abnormal characteristic should be corrected. We analyze the signifying practices that engender different forms of narration of obesity. The contribution of Cultural Studies has contributed for us to see the emergence of a new social category and a new cultural identity: the obese. We consider that this group is classified as deviant in the cultural hegemonic dynamic in which scientific and cultural discourses delimit its social representation. We investigate the discursive construction of obesity, especially inferring the issues and recurring speeches, arguments, said and unsaid, in the repetitive. We affirm that there is a disciplinary discourse of the body in contemporary society and several strategies are designed to blame people over their bodies. We conducted a study on three levels: first, we seek to understand the scientific discourse of obesity, analyzing review articles in two bases of scientific publications, the Scielo BR and the Portal Capes; then we investigated the television program \"Bem Estar\", by Rede Globo; finally, we try to understand how the discourses are produced in everyday life, performing a diary and recording spontaneous conversations we witness randomly on the subway, in restaurants, on the beach and other public and private places. From science, we can infer that the discourses are constructed from a biomedical Cartesian and deterministic model created in the eighteenth century that follows a project of forming beliefs and truths so science can have an important role in the speeches of other areas such as communication, judiciary and public policies. The media uses the relevant discourses of biomedical model to create a social representation polarized of ideal types of obese: one who suffers all the negative consequences for being fat and one who \"has changed their lives for better\" after they lost weight. The everyday conversations contributed to understand the discursive negotiations that exist in society. Even with the relations of power and cultural hegemony of a group, the subjects are complex and their discourses also reflect these characteristics: the data show repetitions of other discourses, points the relations with the individualization of responsibility with the body, moral issues, prejudice and idealization of beauty, but also show resistance to hegemonic discourses, mainly when they express that life can be plastic and that obese subjects can build other kinds of relations with their body and create their own normality.

The aim of this undergraduate thesis was to examine the media’s portrayal of overweight and obese children and their surroundings, using the first and third dimensions of Fairclough’s three dimensional model for critical discourse analysis. The study addressed the following questions: How does the press, in this study represented by two newspapers, portray overweight and obese children? What discourses regarding overweight and obesity among children are the most prominent in these two newspapers? What risks and negative influences in the child’s surroundings are identified, and how are they described? What social representations can the images of overweight and obese children originate from? The analyzed material consisted of 62 articles from Dagens Nyheter and Aftonbladet, which were analyzed using the earlier mentioned method for discourse analysis, as well as the theory of social representations. The results showed that “the fat child” and its environment were portrayed exclusively in negative terms, and a discourse linking obesity and ill-health dominated a large part of the material. A number of risks, for example food risks and lifestyle risks said to play a part in the child’s ill-health were identified. Three social representations were identified throughout the material and said to contribute to, as well as result from, the images of “the fat child”.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
This study aims to analyze, from the theoretical-methodological assumptions of the Discourse Analysis of French orientation, the processes of production of meaning in the transmission of news, in the electronic newspaper G1, referring to the overcoming of obesity. For the construction of the corpus of this work, we sought to cut discursive sequences from the news produced and conveyed by the G1 portal "O Portal de Notícias da Globo" between 2012 and 2016, in order to understand the "need" to overcome the obstacle that is the fat body, put as the greatest villain to achieve the goal of "success" portrayed in the lean body and so learn the sense effects of this fat body and lean body nowadays. The fact is, fatness and thinness have always existed. However, the fat body that in many societies was welcomed and seen with "good eyes" while thinness was synonymous with disease, today "needs" to make an effort to lose weight and prevent the body from being an obstacle to enter into everywhere and be accepted in society. In this scenario, the media collaborates as a diffuser of this "need", because it is impregnated with cultural references, aided by the market, generates consumption and builds ideals of beauty and body patterns. It gains its space in society for being an omnipresent text to interpellate the subjects with sayings about qualities alienated the modern social life, dictating to the subjects, that they need to fill their life through something that is outside of them. This dominant statement that is given by the media crossed by the market is what regulates and establishes conduct, customs and social tastes. In this way, the construction of meanings around the fat body is always negatively adjectivized, as a body that violates the laws in force. It is therefore a transgressor, while the lean body is positived and exalted, a fact that emerges from the mediatic perspective and is guided by the culture of consumption, shows a place of construction of this subject that is seduced by the "impositions" of success, translating an "illusion of completeness, "conveyed as the" formula of full happiness "and illustrated in the form of gains, self-esteem, beauty, professional, personal and loving ascension. In the workings of journalistic discourse, the search for the meaning of the news is built on the idea that language and history are transparent. These questions allow us to understand the ideological functioning of these senses about body and beauty, about health, about success intervening in the life of the subject, who builds his body in consumption and, therefore, a capital body, a currency of exchange, which in effect, in the name of the results the ends erase the means, for what matters and being thin.
Este estudo objetiva analisar, a partir do pressuposto teórico-metodológico da Análise do Discurso de orientação francesa, os processos de produção de sentido na veiculação de notícias, no Portal de notícias G1, referentes à superação da obesidade. Para construção do corpus desta pesquisa foram recortadas vinte e três sequências discursivas de matérias produzidas e veiculadas pelo Portal G1 “O portal de notícias da Globo” de 2012 a 2016, a fim de compreender a “necessidade” de superar o obstáculo que é o corpo gordo, posto como maior vilão para atingir o objetivo do “sucesso”, retratado no corpo magro e, assim, poder aprender os efeitos de sentido desse corpo gordo e corpo magro na atualidade. O fato é que gordura e magreza sempre existiram. No entanto, o corpo gordo que em muitas sociedades era acolhido e visto com “bons olhos”, enquanto a magreza era sinônimo de doença, hoje, “precisa” fazer um esforço para emagrecer e evitar que o corpo seja um obstáculo para poder adentrar em todos os lugares e ser aceito na sociedade. Nesse cenário, a mídia colabora como difusora dessa “necessidade”, pois é impregnada de referências culturais, auxiliada pelo mercado, gera o consumo e constrói ideais de beleza e de padrões corporais. Ganha seu espaço na sociedade por se constituir um texto onipresente a interpelar os sujeitos com dizeres sobre qualidades alienadas a vida social moderna, ditando aos sujeitos que eles necessitam preencher sua vida por meio de algo que está fora deles. Esse enunciado dominante, que se dá pela mídia atravessado pelo mercado, é o que regulariza e estabelece a conduta, os costumes e os gostos sociais. Dessa forma, a construção de sentidos em torno do corpo gordo é sempre adjetivada de forma negativa, posto como um corpo que viola as leis vigentes. É, portanto, um transgressor, enquanto o corpo magro é positivado e exaltado, fato que emerge pela ótica midiática e é guiado pela cultura do consumo, evidencia um lugar de construção desse sujeito que é seduzido pelas “imposições” do sucesso, traduzindo uma “ilusão de completude”, veiculada como a “fórmula de felicidade plena” e ilustrada em forma de ganhos, de autoestima, beleza, ascensão profissional, pessoal e amorosa. No funcionamento do discurso jornalístico, a busca pelo sentido da notícia se constrói a partir da ideia de que a língua e a história são transparentes. Estas questões permitem compreender o funcionamento ideológico desses sentidos sobre o corpo e a beleza, sobre a saúde, sobre o sucesso intervindo na vida do sujeito, que constrói seu corpo no consumo e, portanto, um corpo capital, uma moeda de troca que, se efetivada, atinge o sucesso, no qual, em nome dos resultados, os fins apagam os meios, pois o que importa é ser magro.

Tesi doctoral que determina, a partir d'estudis quantitatius i qualitatius, quin és el procés a través del qual els nens i nenes en etapa preadolescent (9-12 anys) interioritzen valors i esterotips adults difosos a través de la publicitat convencional i no convencional i la possible incidència d'aquest procés en futurs trastorns del comportament alimentari.
L'estudi aprofundeix en la interrelació entre aquesta interpretació preadolescent d'aquests estereotips publicitaris i l'aparició d'indicis d'una simptomatologia pròpia dels trastorns del comportament alimentari relacionada amb l'intent infantil de començar a adequar-se a uns determinats cànons estètics habituals en la publicitat adreçada a un públic objectiu adult. La present recerca analitza de forma comparativa la publicitat adreçada al públic objectiu adult i la que es dirigeix a un públic infantil, tot parant especial atenció a les similituds i a les divergències de les fórmules persuasives utilitzades, als hàbits difosos a través dels espots estudiats i a la generació d'estereotips físics, psíquics, socials i culturals.
Doctoral thesis that determines the process through preadolescents addopt values and stereotypes created and diffused by means of conventional and non-conventional advertising. Secondly, the research analizes the possible incidence of this process on future adolescent Eating Disorders. The study deepens on the relation between this preadolescent interpretation of the advertising stereotypes, and the apparition of signs of a symptom characteristic of Eating which use to appear on adult advertising. The research establishes, from a comparative point of view, the advertising strategies used for an adult target and the creative discourse addressed to children, paying special attention to resemblances and divergencies on the persuasive structures used on the advertising strategies, the behaviour habits diffused through the spots, and the generation of phisical, psychic, social and cultural stereotypes.

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O câncer de mama e a obesidade são doenças crônicas de grande prevalência na população feminina brasileira. Essas patologias interferem no completo bem estar físico, social e mental das mulheres. A obesidade interfere negativamente no prognóstico das pacientes tratadas com câncer de mama e na relação da mulher com o seu corpo. Nesse sentido, a busca pela saúde precisa ser compreendida pelos profissionais que cuidam desse grupo da mesma forma que os diferentes discursos que emergem dessas mulheres durante o tratamento. O presente estudo pretende, então, verificar a prevalência da obesidade no grupo de mulheres em tratamento de câncer de mama, através das medidas antropométricas realizadas nesse período terapêutico, assim como no comportamento frente à atividade física. Para tanto, esta dissertação é apresentada sob a forma de três artigos: o primeiro, intitulado "Prevalência da obesidade em mulheres tratadas do câncer de mama em uma UNACOM em Juiz de Fora", se propôs a averiguar a preponderância de préobesos e obesos nesse grupo. O segundo artigo, sob o título "Associação entre variáveis antropométricas e o tratamento para o câncer de mama", teve o propósito de verificar a variação do índice de massa corpórea (IMC) e a circunferência da cintura (CC) – mensurados antes do início do tratamento adjuvante e após um ano do término da radioterapia – e a associação dessa variação com o tratamento do câncer de mama. O grupo analisado permaneceu com sobrepeso e obeso durante todo o processo de cura, apresentando um risco aumentado para doenças cardiovasculares e um prognóstico desfavorável. Nos dois artigos supracitados, a metodologia aplicada foi quantitativa, por meio do cálculo das frequências, médias e desvios-padrão. Foram utilizados o teste Qui-Quadrado para verificar a associação entre as variáveis antropométricas e fatores relacionados ao câncer e o teste "T" Student pareado a fim de identificar a diferença das variáveis no pré e póstratamento, respectivamente. No terceiro artigo, apresentado sob o título "Meu corpo com câncer atravessado pela atividade física", buscou-se analisar os discursos das mulheres nas entrevistas realizadas durante o tratamento em relação à prática da atividade física/corporal, a informação dada pela equipe multidisciplinar sobre os prejuízos que o câncer e o seu tratamento trazem e os benefícios da prática de uma atividade física/corporal para a saúde. Constatou-se, com isso, uma deficiência de informação e comunicação pela equipe de saúde que promove o tratamento e cuida da saúde do grupo em estudo. A atividade física/corporal é uma intervenção eficaz que deveria ser propagada como intervenção positiva na busca de um corpo saudável e como estratégia de melhora do prognóstico frente ao câncer de mama , visto que as pacientes permaneceram com sobrepeso ou obesas durante todo o tratamento.
Breast cancer and obesity are chronic diseases of high prevalence among women in Brazil. These conditions interfere with the complete physical, mental and social wellbeing of women. Obesity adversely affects the prognosis of patients treated with breast cancer and the woman's relationship with her body. In this sense, the search for health needs to be understood by professionals who care that the same way that the different discourses that emerge from these women during the treatment group. This study, then, aims to determine the prevalence of obesity in the group of women treated for breast cancer by using anthropometric measurements in therapeutic period, and in front of the physical activity behavior. To this end, this dissertation is presented in the form of three articles: the first, entitled "Prevalence of obesity in women treated for breast cancer in a UNACOM in Juiz de Fora", aimed to determine the prevalence of pre-obese and obese the second article in this group, under the title "Association between anthropometric variables and treatment for breast cancer", aimed to verify the change in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) - measured before the start of adjuvant treatment and one year after the end of radiotherapy - and the association of this variation with the treatment of breast cancer. The group analyzed remained overweight and obese throughout the healing process, an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and a poor prognosis. In the above two articles, the methodology was quantitative by calculating the frequencies, means and standard deviations. Chi-square test were used to assess the association between anthropometric variables and factors related to cancer and the "T" paired Student test to identify the difference of the variables before and after treatment, respectively. In the third article, presented under the title "My body with cancer restricted by physical activity", we sought to analyze the discourses of women in interviews during treatment in relation to physical / bodily activity, the information given by the multidisciplinary team on the damage that cancer and its treatment and bring the benefits of practicing a physical activity / body health. It was found, therefore, a deficiency of information and communication by healthcare promoting treatment and care of the health of the group under study. The physical / bodily activity is an effective intervention that should be propagated as positive intervention in the pursuit of a healthy body and how to improve the prognosis with breast cancer strategy, since the patients were overweight or obese throughout treatment.

National media attention sensationalizes the panic of obesity prevalence, placing fat bodies in the spotlight. Scholars employing social and cultural analyses criticize the way negative messages about obesity and fatness are delivered. Few studies directly engage with people of different body sizes asking how their experiences interact with the discourses that frame fat bodies as part of the “epidemic.” The present study is informed by scholarship centered on critical perspectives of health, food and embodiment furthering a critique of the way messages are disseminated by local health and food justice organizations through media campaigns and community programs that heighten fears of fatness. Miami offers a unique lens for a place-based approach to problematize assumptions, politics and discourses about bodies and health. Analysis of interviews with six organization representatives shows an overall emphasis on individually-targeted initiatives that detract from examining structural factors. This phenomenon aligned with mainstream discourse, centering individual choice and responsibility at the heart of the purported problem of obesity. An ethnography of body size, where residents of Miami communities speak to their own perspectives on these organizations and discourses, offers a unique approach showing how messages interact with lived experiences. The narratives of twenty women demonstrate their own concerns and thoughtfulness in making sense of the ubiquitous claims about obesity. My work contributes to critical theoretical perspectives that engage with problems of the body, health, food studies and elements of gender, race and class across numerous disciplines. This multi-disciplinary approach underscores the complexities of embodied experiences of discourses, politics, body size, health and place.

A obesidade mórbida é uma doença crônica, de causas multifatoriais e de tratamento difícil, que apresenta alto risco para a saúde. A cirurgia bariátrica tem se mostrado a opção mais eficaz de tratamento para a redução das comorbidades, mas pode ser seguida de problemas físicos que causam dificuldades nos relacionamentos interpessoais, dificultando a adaptação psicossocial do indivíduo ao meio ambiente social. Em longo prazo o sucesso depende da mudança de comportamento, principalmente em relação aos hábitos alimentares, da complementação necessária de vitamina e sal mineral e da prática regular de exercícios físicos de forma contínua. Ao longo do tempo, fatores psicológicos exercem influência sobre a capacidade de o paciente adaptar-se às condições de vida para a necessária manutenção da redução do peso corpóreo. O período de tempo decorrido após a cirurgia, entre 4 e 12 anos, foi investigado em uma amostra composta por 75 pessoas; todos os pacientes foram operados com a utilização da mesma técnica cirúrgica e pelo mesmo cirurgião, também coordenador da equipe multidisciplinar. A idade mínima foi de 26 e máxima de 76 anos. Foram utilizados três instrumentos de avaliação psicológica com a seguinte finalidade: medir o Nível de Coping e Habilidade Social; pesquisar a opinião dos sujeitos de forma categorizada pelo método do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo, mediante a aplicação de instrumento desenvolvido especificamente para a presente investigação; e avaliar a insatisfação com a imagem corporal pela aplicação da Escala de Silhuetas de Stunkard (SMT). Os resultados, tratados estatisticamente, revelaram pessoas com médio e alto nível de coping e habilidade social, que demonstram condições adequadas de enfrentamento e de formação de vínculos sociais; contudo encontram-se acima do peso esperado, cujo Índice de Massa Corporal indica situação de obesidade grau 1, de acordo com a OMS. Estão insatisfeitos com a silhueta atual, conscientes de que se encontram acima do peso desejado, mas valorizam altamente a opção que fizeram pela realização da cirurgia bariátrica, que lhes proporcionou autonomia, elevação da autoestima e os livrou da discriminação social. A discussão se fez com o aporte teórico de conceitos extraídos da psicologia cognitiva, da psicologia positiva, da psicanálise, da sociologia e da antropologia. Concluiu-se que a gastroplastia produz efeitos colaterais fisiológicos perenes, como engasgos, vômitos e mal-estar, que dificultam, mas não impedem, a adaptação psicossocial; que os entrevistados têm consciência de que o peso e a imagem não correspondem ao padrão esperado por eles, contudo apresentam adequado sentido de adaptação social; e para eles a cirurgia bariátrica ocupa um lugar que envolve representações mentais de rito de passagem, como transposição metafórica para um novo status da condição social
Morbid obesity is a chronic condition, of multi-factor causes, difficult to treat and which carries a high risk of health problems. Bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective treatment for reducing comorbidities, but it may be followed by physical problems that cause difficulties in interpersonal relationships, hindering the individual\'s psychosocial adaptation to the social environment. Long-term success depends on changing behavior especially in relation to food habits, use of vitamin supplements and mineral salt, as appropriate, and regular practice of physical activity. Over time, psychological factors may influence the ability of patients to adapt to their living conditions and maintain the weight loss. A period of time after surgery between 4 and 12 years was investigated in a sample of 75 people. All patients underwent the procedure using the same surgical technique, performed by the same surgeon and coordinator of the multidisciplinary team. The patients were aged between 26 years and 76 years. Three psychometric measures were used to investigate the level of coping and the participants\' opinion through an interview conducted in a categorized manner: the method of Discourse of the Collective Subject, including a questionnaire developed specifically for this research, and the assessment of body image dissatisfaction according to the Stunkard Silhouette Matching Task (SMT). The results, analyzed in statistical terms, revealed individuals with medium and high levels of coping and social skills, who demonstrate appropriate coping conditions and ability to establish social bonds. Nevertheless, they are still above the expected weight and present body mass indexes that indicate a status of grade 1 obesity, according to the WHO. These individuals are dissatisfied with their current silhouettes, aware that they are above the desired weight, but strongly value the choice they made for bariatric surgery that gave them autonomy and increased selfesteem, protecting them against social prejudice. The discussion was based on theoretical concepts drawn from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, psychoanalysis, sociology and anthropology. Conclusions: gastroplasty produces continuing physiological side effects that make psychological and social adaptation difficult, although it does not prevent them from occurring; the respondents are aware that their weight and body image do not match the pattern of their expectations, nevertheless they do present an adequate sense of social adaptation and, for them, bariatric surgery occupies a place that involves mental representations of rite of passage, as a metaphorical transposition to a new social status

This thesis reports on a qualitative exploration of the experiences of 30 women designated as ‘high risk’ due to the co-existence of ‘maternal obesity’ (BMI ≥ 30) and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)/Type Two Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in pregnancy. This is examined in the context of medico-scientific/public health/ popular media discourses pertaining to ‘maternal obesity’/GDM/T2DM in pregnancy. ‘Maternal obesity’/GDM/T2DM in pregnancy are increasingly prevalent and clinically associated in manifold ways. Increasing prevalence is linked to the ‘global epidemic’ of ‘obesity’/diabetes: now commonly referred to as ‘diabesity’. Current biomedical knowledge asserts ‘maternal obesity’ and diabetes (‘maternal diabesity’) synergise in causing adverse pregnancy outcomes, have long term health implications for the offspring and contribute to an ‘intergenerational cycle’ of ‘obesity’/diabetes. This is the first qualitative study to consider pregnancy/post-birth experiences of women with co-existing ‘maternal obesity’ and GDM/T2DM in pregnancy from a sociological perspective. Participants undertook a series of auto/biographical narrative interviews. Longitudinal engagement provided nuanced psycho-social insight into women’s perceptions/experiences and the socio-cultural context of their lives. Analysis of pertinent ‘pregnancy’ Internet fora postings augmented interview data and was utilised for comparative/corroborative purposes. Participants were predominantly of low socio-economic status, congruent with epidemiological data. The concept of pregnancy ‘planning’ was not resonant and few women accessed/felt predisposed to access preconception care. Women did not identify as ‘obese’, and knowledge/perception of risks associated with the medical ‘conditions’ was low. Women perceived themselves to be stigmatised due to their weight in society and specifically within healthcare. Many participants were experiencing acute/chronic stress which appeared to have mediated risk perceptions/compromised diabetic regimen adherence. Expense of ‘healthy’ eating/diabetic diet was considered prohibitive. Women’s material circumstances/socio-cultural milieux may militate against ability to minimise risk and effect lifestyle change. Policy and practice, for the most part, fails to take this into account.

碩士
佛光大學
生命學研究所
101
As the lifestyle westernized in recent years,obesity became not just the global concern but as the main factor for causing chronic diseases and cancers. If the experiences and observation obtained both from modern medical and traditional Chinese medical (TCM) can be complementary combined, there will enhance the effect on the health of people. This study used the cross-sectional questionnaire survey with the convenience sampling method. The study objects were the 191 students, which BMI 24, from the colleges at the Yilan County. The data were collected in questionnaire include personal information and type of TCM syndrome on obesity. The analysis parameters include frequency distribution, analytic percents, means, standard deviations, independent -sample t-test, crosstab Chi-square test, and variances. The results showed that there were 68.6% male (131 persons) and 31.4% female (60 persons) with an average age at 21.0 (SD= 2.5)in this study. The indexes of obesity (waist measurement, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage), Hemodynamics (systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure)were all significant difference from gender. Above all the indexes, the indexes of male were all higher than female, except the body fat percentage, which of female is higher than those of male. The waist measurement, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, hemodynamics and gender were all positive correlation from the degree of obesity (overweight:24≦ BMI≦26.9, mild- obesity :27≦BMI≦29.9, moderate obesity:30≦BMI≦34.9, and severe obesity:BMI≧35)with significant difference. The data obtained from the differentiation of TCM syndrome showed that there were on type of stomach heat and dampness, which give the highest; others include type of spleen deficiency and dampness, type of liver stasis and qi stagnation, and type of yin deficiency with heat. The gender and complications of obesity were all correlation from the differentiation of TCM syndrome with significant difference. The results of this study provide us the information on health as well as a new thinking and method from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

“What Is Obesity?: Complementary Discourses” seeks to present several perspectives on the entity ‘obesity’ in an effort to establish relationships, differences, and the possibility of critiques between and among the biomedical model, fat studies, media, policy and marketing, and Aboriginality. Using Foucault’s tenets of power, discourse, and governmentality, this thesis will demonstrate the ways in which discourses employ techniques of governance and the responses of self-governing individuals. Each chapter will represent a perspective with its own taxonomy, measures, and constructions of ‘obesity’. To conclude, the thesis will look at the possibility for collaboration in interdisciplinary research on the subject of obesity; in a direct exchange between the perspectives, the thesis will attempt provide a comprehensive account of ‘obesity’ as being comprised of several perspectives simultaneously.
Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-02 16:50:34.912

L’augmentation observée de la prévalence du surpoids et de l’obésité au Québec comme ailleurs en Occident inquiète tant les gouvernements que les autorités médicales. Afin de contenir ce phénomène qui est désormais décrit comme une pandémie d’obésité, ces organisations y sont allées de différentes initiatives et recommandations, dans un contexte d’inefficacité avérée des interventions de gestion de poids à caractère clinique et d’émergence de stratégies de prévention dont l’efficacité et la sécurité à long terme restent encore à démontrer. Méthode : L’objet de cette recherche a été de décrire l’évolution du discours des organismes officiels de santé au Québec en matière de gestion du poids par l’analyse de contenu. Cette analyse a eu recours à une grille de plus de 160 documents produits au cours des 60 dernières années par les gouvernements, les autorités professionnelles et les médias québécois. Résultats et discussion : L’analyse révèle que l’évolution du discours de ces organisations s’inscrit dans trois continuums : le pathologique (une évolution, une gradation, une inflation étymologique du sens qui est donné au poids problématique); la surveillance (avec l’établissement de critères rationnels, la surveillance d’abord individuelle est devenue collective et s’est institutionnalisée); la responsabilisation (la responsabilité du poids s’est déplacée de l’individu vers le collectif puis vers le social). Ces continuums illustrent un déplacement de la manière de conceptualiser le poids de la sphère privée vers la sphère publique. Cette analyse révèle aussi qu’il y a à l’œuvre un exercice disciplinaire propre à une moralisation qui s’appuie sur la prémisse que l’augmentation de la prévalence touche toute la population de manière égale. Or, il n’en est rien.
The increase in overweight and obesity prevalence observed in Quebec as elsewhere worries governments and medical authorities. In order to contain what is described as an “obesity pandemic”, Quebec public health organisations have proposed a number of recommendations depsite the fact that long-term safety of clinical interventions have proven inefficient, and prevention strategies to manage weight undetermined. Objective: To examine the evolution of public discourses about weight management by Quebec’s public health organisations in order to identify if there is a moral standard being constructed and discuss what this reveals about modern societies. Method: Through content analysis of over 160 official documents produced by government, public health organisations and the media over the last 60 years, this thesis will describe and analyze weight management discourses of Quebec’s official health organisations. Results and Discussion: The evolution of public weight management discourses by official public health organisations can best be described using three distinct continuums which all illustrate a shift from the private domain to the public one in the way weight problems are conceptualised. These continuums are: the pathological, or the etymological evolution of meaning given to the problematic weight; surveillance, in that rational criteria has been established and surveillance is no longer in the realm of the personal but rather has become a problem of the collective and in so doing, has become institutionalised; and finally, responsibility, where weight management has migrated from the individual through to the collective and then firmly into the social domain. This analysis illustrates that the disciplinary exercise of weight management, which functions as a moralizing process, considers the increase in overweight and obesity prevalence is across the population. However, such is not the case.