There are three threads on display here that should not be confused:
One: social norms that indeed can be stigmatizing, but for different things in different cultures and for different things at different times. Questioning of norms and customs is very prominent in modern industrialized societies where change has been accelerated.
There are three threads on display here that should not be confused:
One: social norms that indeed can be stigmatizing, but for different things in different cultures and for different things at different times. Questioning of norms and customs is very prominent in modern industrialized societies where change has been accelerated.
Two: medical knowledge that certain practices are better than others in terms of promoting health. So here it is important both not to stigmatize obese patients or clients - something that has been a part of medical practice as long as I can remember (I am a retired RN) - while pointing out real and potential health problems. But it is probably impossible to completely cleanse such discussions of any normativety, and the question is if this would even be desirable. Being saddled with health or mobility problems down the line is not empowering, but what risk any individual is at must rely on best population and individual data both.
Three: the contribution of an ideology that sees racism and colonialism in everything, and want to problematize any established association between heath and obesity (as far as I can see).
It is therefore important which of these points of view one is arguing from, for clarity: Yes, there are all kinds of contributing factors to obesity and ideally one should be able to address all - but that is still presuming that there is something to be addressed.
There are three threads on display here that should not be confused:
One: social norms that indeed can be stigmatizing, but for different things in different cultures and for different things at different times. Questioning of norms and customs is very prominent in modern industrialized societies where change has been accelerated.
Two: medical knowledge that certain practices are better than others in terms of promoting health. So here it is important both not to stigmatize obese patients or clients - something that has been a part of medical practice as long as I can remember (I am a retired RN) - while pointing out real and potential health problems. But it is probably impossible to completely cleanse such discussions of any normativety, and the question is if this would even be desirable. Being saddled with health or mobility problems down the line is not empowering, but what risk any individual is at must rely on best population and individual data both.
Three: the contribution of an ideology that sees racism and colonialism in everything, and want to problematize any established association between heath and obesity (as far as I can see).
It is therefore important which of these points of view one is arguing from, for clarity: Yes, there are all kinds of contributing factors to obesity and ideally one should be able to address all - but that is still presuming that there is something to be addressed.