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Living with obesity

11 June 2008

Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Ethics in Medicine and Society Dr Samantha Thomas is leading research into the lived experiences of overweight people.

Monash University researchers have launched a study in the Waverley/Clayton areas to find out the day-to-day living experiences of people with obesity.

Sociologist and obesity expert Dr Samantha Thomas is heading the research into how overweight people are treated by society and what social issues they deal with as a result.

"We all know that overweight people will, at some point, be criticised and even humiliated because of their size," Dr Thomas said.

"We want to know how this impacts on them personally. Are their lives made miserable by society's obsession with weight? Do they suffer discrimination?"

Dr Thomas believes the study results will have a two-fold effect.

"We want to gain a better understanding of how a person lives with obesity so we can devise strategies and programs to help individuals better manage their condition and emotional well-being," Dr Thomas said.

"We also hope to be able to understand how society as a whole views obesity.

"We expect that by learning more about obesity as a lived experience -- not just weight gain -- we can address the many issues associated with that, whatever they may be."

Dr Thomas lists anxiety, depression and childhood abuse as possible causes of obesity and says there is more to being overweight than simply eating too much.

"The issue is that we really don't know why people become obese," Dr Thomas said.

"Overeating is not a normal behaviour and for most people, it is a learned behaviour that can't easily be stopped.

"So why do people overeat to the point of obesity and why are the numbers continuing to grow?"

"Once we begin to understand the reasons for obesity, we can then begin to really address the problem.

"The solution is unlikely to involve dieting but rather a change in social thinking driven by our policy-makers in much the same way as society has tackled other health issues such as smoking."

To find out more about the study or to express your interest in participating contact 1800 22 99 21.