SDSU Professor Teaches “Fat Studies”

Thursday, July 23, 2009

By Tom Fudge

Audio

SDSU Professor Teaches "Fat Studies"

Aired 7/23/09

A San Diego State professor wants to change the way we talk about being fat.

SAN DIEGO — A San Diego State professor wants to change the way we talk about being fat.

"Fat" is the word professor Esther Rothblum uses, and it's the subject she'll examine in her upcoming anthology. She's editor of a book called "The Fat Studies Reader." She says the expressions overweight and obese are medical terms. And they don't tell the story of the American obsession with weight and appearance. Rothblum is a women's studies professor who says you'd be surprised to know how many young people believe they're too fat.

"When I lecture about weight in my undergraduate classes, even my very thin students tell me that they're very fat, they saw me looking at them, they think they should lose weight," she says.

Rothblum says reality shows about people trying to lose weight are just one way society has fastened on a subject. Putting aside the health concerns, she says her message is: It's okay to look different.

Comments

Avatar image for user 'zander60614'

zander60614 | July 24, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. ― 3 years, 10 months ago

This “professor” is a joke!! Telling people it’s OK to be fat just because you are isn’t right! The link to health issues and being over weight are undeniable, this book is irresponsible.

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~rothblum/

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